COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 177/25 Cigar Lighter Wiring 6/79
Applicability: Models 177 and 177RG with S/Nos. 1770001 to 17702314 and 177RG0001 to 177RG0788.
Requirement: Disconnect the wire, at the ammeter or at the electrical system bus as applicable, that connects the bus to the cigar lighter receptacle. (The wire is connected to either the bus side or equipment side of a circuit breaker or to the ammeter). Following the disconnection of this wire either:
- Reconnect the wire to the electrical bus by using an existing or newly installed circuit protection device that is properly rated to protect the wire gauge used for this circuit; or
2. Disconnect the wire from the lighter receptacle at the opposite end and remove it from the airplane; or
3. Protect the wire by insulating its disconnected end, fold this wire end back against the wire bundle in which it is routed and secure it to that bundle.
Note 1: For those installations reconnected in accordance with paragraph 1 the proper rated circuit protection device to be used may be determined by consulting ANO 108.32 Appendix Table 6.
Note 2: An inline fuse is an acceptable means of compliance. Note 3: FAA AD 79-08-03 Refers.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 30 June 1979.
Background: Incidents of wiring shorting and fires in the wiring bundles have occurred overseas.
Circuit protection is required to prevent further incidents.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39, specifically Section 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives concerning various aircraft models. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 177/25, addresses the issue of wiring shorting and potential fires associated with the cigar lighter wiring in Cessna 177 series aeroplanes. The directive applies to specific serial numbers and mandates that the wire connecting the electrical bus to the cigar lighter receptacle be disconnected and appropriately managed to prevent electrical faults. The policy objective is to mitigate the risk of wiring-related incidents, ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the aircraft. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 30 June 1979, following incidents of wiring shorting and fires reported overseas.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Cessna 177 series aeroplanes with serial numbers within the specified range for models 177 and 177RG. This regulation is designed to address incidents of wiring shorting and subsequent fires in the wiring bundles that have been reported overseas. The regulation mandates that the wire connecting the bus to the cigar lighter receptacle must be disconnected and either reconnected with proper circuit protection, disconnected from the lighter receptacle and removed from the aircraft, or insulated and secured to prevent any further incidents. This directive applies nationally under the Commonwealth of Australia and must be adhered to by all operators of the affected Cessna 177 series aircraft. Compliance is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1979. The regulation allows for the use of an inline fuse as an acceptable means of compliance, as referenced in FAA AD 79-08-03. The application of this directive is precise and leaves no room for deviation from the outlined safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contain directives for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 177/25, pertains to the wiring of the cigar lighter in Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes, including models 177 and 177RG with specific serial numbers (Section 1). The directive requires that the wire connecting the bus to the cigar lighter receptacle must be disconnected at either the ammeter or the electrical system bus (Section 2). After disconnection, the wire must be managed in one of three ways: it can be reconnected to the electrical bus with proper circuit protection (Section 3(1)), disconnected at the lighter receptacle and removed from the aircraft (Section 3(2)), or its disconnected end must be insulated, folded, and secured to the wire bundle (Section 3(3)).
The obligations imposed by this directive are quite clear. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that the specified wire is disconnected and then managed according to one of the three prescribed methods. This involves either adding proper circuit protection, removing the wire, or insulating it appropriately to prevent any potential electrical faults that could lead to fires (Section 4). Operators must consult ANO 108.32 Appendix Table 6 for guidance on selecting the proper rated circuit protection device when reconnecting the wire (Note 1). Additionally, an inline fuse is acknowledged as an acceptable means of compliance (Note 2).
Failure to comply with AD/CESSNA 177/25 can lead to serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not outlined in the directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in substantial penalties. Civil penalties can include fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals or companies responsible for the non-compliance. The maximum penalties can vary, but they can include significant financial penalties and potential imprisonment for directors or senior officers of companies found in breach of these regulations.