AD/CESSNA 185/1 Amdt 2 - Plastic Control Wheel

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation includes Part 39 - 105, which pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes, as detailed in AD/CESSNA 185/1 Amendment 2, focuses on the plastic control wheel. This directive addresses the problem of ensuring the structural integrity and operational safety of the control wheels used in these aircraft models. The policy objective of this regulation is to mandate specific inspection intervals for the plastic control wheels to prevent potential failures that could compromise flight safety. The directive requires inspections in accordance with specified Cessna Service Letters to maintain compliance and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, specifically Part 39 – 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Cessna 185 Series aeroplanes fitted with plastic control wheels. This legislative instrument, designated as AD/CESSNA 185/1 Amendment 2, mandates the inspection of the plastic control wheels in compliance with Cessna Service Letters 62-44 and 64-8. The requirement necessitates inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service in accordance with Cessna Service Letter 62-44, and at 500 hours of total time in service and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service in accordance with Cessna Service Letter 64-8. The scope of this legislation is national, overseen by the Commonwealth of Australia, and it extends to all relevant aircraft within Australia’s jurisdiction, ensuring that the specified maintenance actions are conducted to uphold airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in Part 39, contain specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of various aircraft models, including the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes. Under this regulation, AD/CESSNA 185/1 Amendment 2 focuses on the plastic control wheel of these aircraft (section 39-105). This directive applies to all models of Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes equipped with plastic control wheels (section 39-105(1)). The primary requirement outlined in this directive is that the action specified in Cessna Service Letters (SL) No. 62-44 and 64-8 must be followed (section 39-105(2)). Specifically, these service letters mandate inspections at certain intervals to ensure the integrity and functionality of the plastic control wheel. To comply with these requirements, the aircraft must be inspected according to Cessna SL 62-44 at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (section 39-105(3)). This means that the inspection must be conducted periodically, with the maximum time between inspections being 100 hours of flight time. Additionally, Cessna SL 64-8 requires inspections at 500 hours of total time in service and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service (section 39-105(4)). This ensures that the plastic control wheel is thoroughly checked at significant milestones in the aircraft's operational life. Failure to adhere to the inspection requirements specified in these service letters could lead to non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. This non-compliance could potentially compromise the airworthiness of the aircraft, leading to safety risks. The regulations do not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties within this section but imply that non-compliance could result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions could include fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory measures to ensure compliance and maintain safety standards. Given the critical nature of ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft, especially concerning control mechanisms, it is imperative that operators and maintenance personnel strictly adhere to the inspection intervals and procedures outlined in the service letters. Any deviation from these requirements could have serious implications, including the risk of aircraft accidents or incidents, thereby necessitating strict compliance to uphold aviation safety standards.