COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 180, 182 and Wren 460 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 180/55 Ammeter Type and Position 9/78
Applicability: All models.
Requirement: 1. Inspect aircraft to ascertain if the ammeter has been modified as per Rex Drawing RA-A-1109 or if a centre zero ammeter (charge/discharge type) is connected in the alternator line.
2. Reconnect centre zero ammeter (charge/discharge type) into the battery line as per original Cessna wiring diagrams.
Note: This requirement can be quickly checked by switching on the battery master switch (alternator not running) and a load such as a landing light switch and noting the following:
(a) if ammeter reads below zero in the discharge sector then it is connected in the battery line.
(b) if the ammeter still reads zero when a load is applied it is quite possibly connected in the alternator line and needs to be reconnected into the battery line.
Compliance: Within the next 100 hours time in service after 30 September 1978.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 focuses on airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 180/55, addresses the specific issue of ammeter type and position within these aircraft. This directive was introduced to address potential safety risks associated with the incorrect placement of the ammeter, which could lead to inadequate monitoring of the aircraft's electrical system. The objective is to ensure that the ammeter is correctly positioned in the battery line to accurately measure electrical discharge, thus maintaining the integrity of the aircraft's electrical system. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1978 to ensure ongoing airworthiness and safety standards are met.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, governs the scope and application of the Airworthiness Directives for aircraft, including the Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 series aeroplanes. This regulatory framework applies to all models of these aircraft, imposing specific operational requirements to ensure safety and airworthiness. The directive mandates inspections to determine whether the ammeter has been altered according to Rex Drawing RA-A-1109 or if a centre zero ammeter is incorrectly connected in the alternator line, with a requirement to reconnect it into the battery line as per the original Cessna wiring diagrams. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with a specified timeframe of within the next 100 hours of time in service following 30 September 1978. The regulations are applicable nationally across Australia, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and are integral to maintaining the safety standards required in civil aviation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 and under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Cessna 180, 182 and Wren 460 Series Aeroplanes, detail the requirements for maintaining the safety standards of these aircraft models (1). The main provision, AD/CESSNA 180/55, focuses on the ammeter type and position, with the objective of ensuring that the ammeter is correctly installed and functioning as intended to avoid potential electrical faults (2). The directive mandates a thorough inspection to determine if the ammeter has been modified according to Rex Drawing RA-A-1109 or if a centre zero ammeter is incorrectly connected in the alternator line (3). If such modifications are found, the directive requires that the centre zero ammeter be reconnected into the battery line, following the original Cessna wiring diagrams (4).
The obligations under this directive are clear and directive. Aircraft owners or operators must conduct a detailed inspection of the aircraft's ammeter to ascertain its position and type. This inspection should be performed within 100 hours of time in service following 30 September 1978 (5). The inspection should determine whether the ammeter has been altered according to Rex Drawing RA-A-1109 or if it is incorrectly connected in the alternator line. If the latter is found to be the case, the ammeter must be promptly reconnected into the battery line as per the original wiring diagrams provided by Cessna (6). This process can be quickly checked by switching on the battery master switch with the alternator not running and applying a load such as a landing light switch to observe the ammeter's reading (7).
Breaching the requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious offence that could lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which may result in grounding of the aircraft until the necessary corrections are made (8). While specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the directive itself, the general penalty provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 apply, which may include fines and imprisonment for serious breaches that result in endangering safety (9). The seriousness of these potential consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the specified inspection and rectification procedures within the stipulated timeframe.