AD/CESSNA 185/19 - Nose Wheel Pivot Bolt

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, is a comprehensive legislative framework that governs all aspects of civil aviation in Australia, including aircraft maintenance and airworthiness standards. One such specific regulation, AD/CESSNA 185/19, was introduced to address the issue of potential structural failure in the nose wheel pivot bolt of Cessna 185 series aeroplanes. The policy objective behind this Airworthiness Directive is to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft by mandating the timely retirement of nose wheel pivot bolts that have exceeded certain operational hours, thus preventing potential in-flight failures and enhancing overall aviation safety. This particular Airworthiness Directive applies to all amphibian models of Cessna 185 aeroplanes equipped with Scott nose wheel assemblies. It requires the retirement of the nose wheel pivot bolt from service, with specific compliance intervals depending on the prior service hours of the bolt. The directive mandates that bolts that have already achieved 500 hours of service must be retired within 100 hours after 31 January 1974, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of service. For all other nose wheel pivot bolts, retirement must occur before they reach 600 hours of service, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of service. This proactive approach aims to mitigate the risk of structural failure and ensure that the aircraft remain airworthy throughout their operational life.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directives, mandate the compliance of all amphibian models equipped with Scott nose wheel assemblies. This legislation applies directly to aircraft operators who must adhere to the outlined requirements for the nose wheel pivot bolt, ensuring safety and airworthiness standards are maintained. The regulations stipulate the retirement of the nose wheel pivot bolt from service after specific intervals of time in service, with precise compliance measures depending on the previous usage hours of the bolt. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and they are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified in this particular directive, meaning all applicable aircraft must comply without exception. The application of these regulations may be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments, providing additional guidance or specific implementation details.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) contain specific provisions in Part 39 - 105 that address the airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes. In this context, AD/CESSNA 185/19 pertains to the nose wheel pivot bolt in amphibian models equipped with Scott nose wheel assemblies (Part 39 - 105.01). The directive mandates that the nose wheel pivot bolt must be retired from service, which means it cannot be used further until it is replaced or repaired according to specified intervals. Under this directive, the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes with Scott nose wheel assemblies must comply with the requirement to retire the nose wheel pivot bolt from service (AD/CESSNA 185/19.01). Specifically, the compliance schedule varies based on the service hours of the bolt. For nose wheel pivot bolts that have achieved 500 hours of time in service, they must be retired within 100 hours after 31 January 1974, and then at intervals not exceeding 600 hours thereafter (AD/CESSNA 185/19.02(a)). For all other nose wheel pivot bolts, retirement must occur before they reach 600 hours of service time and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 600 hours (AD/CESSNA 185/19.02(b)). Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the nose wheel pivot bolts are inspected and retired from service according to the specified intervals. This involves maintaining detailed records of the service hours of each bolt to ensure timely compliance. Operators are also required to replace or repair the retired bolts with approved components and ensure that any modifications are performed by authorised personnel. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), non-compliance with airworthiness directives can be considered an offence. The penalties for such offences can include fines and imprisonment. Specifically, for corporations, the maximum penalty can be up to $1,260,000, while for individuals, the maximum penalty can be up to $252,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years. Additionally, non-compliance may also lead to the grounding of the aircraft, which can have severe operational and financial repercussions for the operators. In summary, AD/CESSNA 185/19 sets out clear requirements for the retirement and replacement of nose wheel pivot bolts in Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes with Scott nose wheel assemblies. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the specified intervals can result in severe civil and criminal penalties, as well as operational disruptions.