AD/CESSNA 180/79 - Wing Lower Spar Cap Angle Stiffener

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, was introduced to address safety and operational standards in civil aviation, including the establishment of airworthiness directives. One such directive is AD/CESSNA 180/79, which pertains to the Cessna 180, 182 and Wren 460 Series aeroplanes. This directive was implemented to address a specific safety issue identified with the aircraft's wing structure, ensuring compliance with safety standards to prevent potential wing failure during flight. The directive requires inspection and, if necessary, installation of an angle stiffener along the lower spar cap between Wing Stations 90 and 110 to meet applicable design requirements, thereby mitigating the risk of loss of control due to structural failure.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the compliance of certain Cessna 180, 182 and Wren 460 Series aeroplanes with airworthiness directives to ensure safety in flight operations. The legislation applies to all aircraft models listed within the specified serial numbers, which have incorporated either the supplemental type certificate (STC) SA00276NY or the supplemental type approval (STA) SA93-136. This directive is aimed at preventing potential wing failure due to the absence of an angle stiffener, thereby avoiding loss of control during flight. The regulation extends its applicability across all Commonwealth jurisdictions in Australia, and compliance must be achieved within 50 hours of the directive’s effective date, 5 November 1998. The directive does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, implying that all applicable aircraft must adhere to the specified requirements. The effectiveness and enforcement of this regulation might be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate certain safety measures for specific models of Cessna aeroplanes. The directive in question, AD/CESSNA 180/79, pertains to the Cessna 180, 182, and Wren 460 series aeroplanes that have been modified with either the supplemental type certificate (STC) SA00276NY or supplemental type approval (STA) SA93-136. The directive requires an inspection of the aircraft wings to ascertain the presence of an angle stiffener on the lower spar cap, situated between Wing Station (WS) 90 and WS 110. This inspection is to be conducted in accordance with Part A of the Accomplishment Instructions of Air Research Technology Inc. (ART) Service Bulletin No. SB-1-96, Issue 1, dated 11 April 1996. If an angle stiffener is not present, the directive mandates that a stainless steel reinforcement strap be installed along the spar at WS 100.50 on the underside of each wing, following Part B of the same ART Service Bulletin No. SB-1-96, Issue 1. The entities governed by this directive are required to ensure compliance within 50 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 5 November 1998. Compliance with this directive is critical as it addresses the risk of wing failure during flight due to the absence of an angle stiffener, which could result in loss of control over the aircraft. The directive references FAA AD 98-16-04 Amdt 39-10679 for additional context and underscores the importance of these measures to maintain the airworthiness of the specified aircraft models. Non-compliance with the provisions outlined in AD/CESSNA 180/79 can lead to significant consequences. Civil aviation regulations provide for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Civilly, non-compliance may result in fines, orders for corrective actions, or even grounding of the affected aircraft until compliance is achieved. Criminally, the breach of these safety directives can lead to prosecution, with penalties potentially including substantial fines and imprisonment. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the text but are generally commensurate with the severity and impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety. In summary, the AD/CESSNA 180/79 directive imposes a clear requirement for the inspection and reinforcement of specific Cessna aircraft models to ensure their continued airworthiness. Compliance is mandatory and failure to adhere to these safety measures can result in severe civil and criminal penalties, reinforcing the critical nature of these directives in maintaining safe aviation practices.