Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, have been supplemented by the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998). This particular AD, titled AD/CESSNA 170/66, was issued on 24 January 2000 by Eugene Paul Holzapfel, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), to address a safety issue with specific Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes. The AD targets a specific unsafe condition related to the fuel selector valve, which could potentially lead to an inadequate fuel supply to the engine, thereby risking emergency landings or loss of control. The directive requires the replacement of certain fuel selector valve components shipped between 6 December 1998 and 10 May 1999 and prohibits the installation of these components as replacements post the AD's effective date of 27 January 2000.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies specifically to the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 series aeroplanes that are listed by serial number and equipped with certain fuel selector valves or valve cams manufactured and shipped by Cessna between 6 December 1998 and 10 May 1999. The AD mandates that these specific parts be replaced or that the identified parts not be used for replacements in applicable aircraft. This directive applies to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998). Compliance with this AD must occur within the next 10 hours of flight time after its effective date, which is 27 January 2000. The AD does not specify any exclusions or exemptions and applies to all relevant aircraft regardless of ownership or operational context within Australia. The directive may be extended or modified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section specifies the Cessna aircraft models and serial numbers affected by this directive, particularly those equipped with certain fuel selector valves shipped between 6 December 1998 and 10 May 1999. The requirement section mandates that any installed fuel selector valve cam part number 0513123 or fuel selector valve part numbers 0513120-5, 0513120-6, 0513120-8, 0513120-9, or 0513120-200 must be replaced, in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SEB99-7 dated 7 June 1999. Additionally, it prohibits the installation of these specified valves as replacements after the AD's effective date. The compliance section requires that the specified actions be completed within the next 10 hours of time in service after the AD becomes effective, which is 27 January 2000. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs. Aircraft owners and operators must review their maintenance records to determine if their aircraft fall within the applicability section. If they do, they must replace the specified fuel selector valves as per the requirement section. Failure to comply with this AD could result in an unsafe condition that could lead to an emergency landing or loss of control of the aircraft. The AD also prohibits the installation of the specified fuel selector valves as replacements after the effective date of the AD. Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can result in serious safety consequences. The AD clearly states that the affected fuel selector valve cams or valves, when installed, could result in an inadequate supply of fuel to the engine, potentially leading to an emergency landing or loss of control. While the AD does not specify particular offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, it is clear that non-compliance poses significant risks to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. The AD underscores the importance of adhering to the specified requirements to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.