AD/CESSNA 180/14 Amdt 2 - Plastic Control Wheel

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were introduced to provide comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation in the country. Among the many parts of these regulations, Part 39 - 105 specifically addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, which are critical for ensuring that aircraft remain safe to fly. One such directive is AD/CESSNA 180/14 Amendment 2, which concerns plastic control wheels on Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 series aeroplanes. This amendment was designed to address potential safety issues related to the plastic control wheels, ensuring that these aircraft meet necessary safety standards. The directive requires compliance with specific service intervals to replace or repair the plastic control wheels, as outlined in relevant Cessna Service Letters, aiming to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft and protect the safety of passengers and crew.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses the maintenance and airworthiness directives applicable to Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 series aeroplanes, with a focus on the directive concerning the plastic control wheel. This regulation applies to all Cessna models fitted with plastic control wheels and mandates compliance with Service Letters (SL) 62-44 and 64-8 issued by Cessna. The requirement entails adhering to the specific actions outlined in these service letters, with the frequency of compliance determined by the aeroplane's time in service: for Service Letter 62-44, the action must be taken at intervals not exceeding 100 hours, and for Service Letter 64-8, the action must be taken at intervals not exceeding 500 hours. This regulation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the maintenance standards are uniformly applied across the aviation industry within the jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Within this Schedule, AD/CESSNA 180/14 Amendment 2 addresses the plastic control wheels on Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 Series Aeroplanes (section 5/69). This directive applies to all models equipped with plastic control wheels. The primary requirement outlined in the directive is to follow the actions specified in 1(a) Cessna Service Letter No. 62-44 and 1(b) Cessna Service Letter No. 64-8. Compliance with these service letters is mandatory for maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft. Under this regulation, the Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 Series Aeroplanes must adhere to specific intervals for compliance with the service letters. For document 1(a), the action must be taken at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, while for document 1(b), the action must be taken at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service. These intervals ensure that the plastic control wheels are regularly inspected and maintained to avoid potential safety hazards. Entities governed by these regulations, such as aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance service providers, must ensure that they follow the prescribed service letters and intervals. This includes performing the necessary inspections and repairs to the plastic control wheels to maintain compliance. Failure to adhere to these directives can result in severe consequences, as non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. In the event of a breach of these provisions, there are potential civil and criminal consequences. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals, as well as fines for corporate entities. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach and the specific provisions that have been contravened. Ensuring strict compliance with these airworthiness directives is therefore critical to avoid these serious legal repercussions.