COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 177/27 Flying Control System Turnbuckles 4/80
Applicability: All models 177, F177RG & 177RG with S/Nos. 17702615 to 17702752, F177RG00165 to F177RG00177, 177RG01114 to 177RG01366.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Cessna SIL No. SE 80-16. Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 30 April 1980.
Background: Some of the AN 155 brass turnbuckles used in the control system may have longitudinal cracks radiating from the turnbuckle end.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, introduced by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address the safety of aircraft by mandating airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 177/27, focuses on the Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes, requiring action concerning the flying control system's turnbuckles to ensure safety. This directive was enacted to address the potential issue of longitudinal cracks in certain brass turnbuckles, which could compromise the structural integrity and control effectiveness of the aircraft. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation by requiring timely compliance with specified safety instructions.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued this directive to mandate compliance within 100 hours of the aeroplanes' time in service after 30 April 1980, for specified models and serial numbers. This directive ensures that all affected aircraft adhere to the Cessna Service Information Letter No. SE 80-16, which provides detailed instructions on rectifying the identified safety concerns. The enactment of such regulations by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 underscores the commitment to safeguarding air travel by preemptively addressing potential mechanical failures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates the aviation industry in Australia, and one of its key legislative instruments is the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Within this extensive regulation, Part 39 outlines specific airworthiness directives, including AD/CESSNA 177/27 concerning Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all models 177, F177RG, and 177RG with specific serial numbers, mandating action to be taken on the flying control system turnbuckles to address potential safety issues. The directive applies to aircraft operators and maintenance personnel who must comply with the specified requirements within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980, ensuring the identified AN 155 brass turnbuckles are inspected and repaired if necessary to prevent longitudinal cracks. This regulation extends across the Commonwealth, thereby affecting all entities and individuals within Australia's jurisdiction who are involved with the specified aircraft models. Subordinate instruments may further detail compliance procedures and enforcement mechanisms, but the primary directive mandates immediate and specific action to ensure continued airworthiness.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the AD/CESSNA 177/27, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, focus on ensuring the airworthiness of certain Cessna 177 Series aeroplanes. Section 39-105 of the Act details the specific requirements and compliance deadlines for addressing issues with the flying control system turnbuckles (paragraph 1). The directive applies to all models 177, F177RG and 177RG with specified serial numbers (paragraph 2). The requirement is to take action in accordance with Cessna SIL No. SE 80-16 and to comply within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980 (paragraph 3). This directive aims to rectify potential safety issues arising from longitudinal cracks in the AN 155 brass turnbuckles of the control system (paragraph 4).
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. Firstly, operators and owners of the specified Cessna 177 Series aeroplanes must ensure that the flying control system turnbuckles are inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary (paragraph 5). This involves adhering to the Cessna SIL No. SE 80-16 guidelines, which detail the specific actions to be taken (paragraph 6). Additionally, compliance with the 100-hour time in service deadline is mandatory, ensuring that the required actions are completed without undue delay (paragraph 7). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy and grounded (paragraph 8).
Breach of the AD/CESSNA 177/27 requirements can lead to serious consequences, both civil and criminal. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators who fail to comply with airworthiness directives may face penalties, including fines and potential prosecution (paragraph 9). The maximum penalties for such offences can be substantial, with fines reaching up to $300,000 for corporations and $60,000 for individuals, in addition to other potential criminal charges (paragraph 10). Furthermore, non-compliance can result in the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, effectively grounding the aeroplane until the necessary actions are taken (paragraph 11). These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to the safety directives set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (paragraph 12).