AD/CESSNA 185/34 - Fuel Cap Alignment Placard

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, establish comprehensive safety standards to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. Specifically, Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s schedule of airworthiness directives, addresses critical safety concerns and mandates corrective actions to maintain the airworthiness of specific aircraft types. The airworthiness directive AD/CESSNA 185/34 concerning the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes was introduced to rectify an issue with the alignment of flush fitting type fuel caps, which is essential for the proper operation of the fuel tank secondary vent system. The directive aims to ensure that the alignment of these fuel caps is correct, thereby preventing potential operational inefficiencies and safety risks. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate compliance within a specified timeframe to ensure that the aircraft continue to meet the necessary safety standards. This directive applies to certain model 185 aircraft with specific serial numbers, requiring corrective action in accordance with Cessna Service Information Letter No. SE 80-59. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1980, underscoring the urgency and importance of addressing this issue to maintain the safety and reliability of the affected aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the issuance of airworthiness directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and it applies to all aircraft registered in Australia. Within this legislative framework, AD/CESSNA 185/34 focuses on the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes, targeting specific serial numbers to ensure compliance with safety standards. The directive mandates the alignment of fuel cap placards for the specified model to ensure the proper functioning of the secondary vent system of the fuel tank, which is crucial for the aircraft's operational efficiency and safety. The compliance requirement stipulates that the action be taken within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1980, as per the instructions detailed in Cessna SIL No. SE 80-59. This regulation applies strictly to the specified serial numbers, ensuring that the prescribed action is confined to the relevant aircraft models. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 extend across the Commonwealth of Australia, with the specific airworthiness directive being applicable nationally. The directive is precise in its geographic reach, applying only to the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes with the specified serial numbers, thereby excluding other aircraft types or models from its scope. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive itself, though broader exemptions or exclusions may exist within the overarching Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The application of the directive may also be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, thereby ensuring that the directive is applied consistently and effectively across the relevant aircraft population.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 and the Airworthiness Directives concerning Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes, outline a directive related to the fuel cap alignment placard for certain model numbers (Sections 39-105). The directive applies to Model 185 aeroplanes with specific serial numbers (AD/CESSNA 185/34). The requirement is for these aircraft to comply with Cessna Service Instruction Letter (SIL) No. SE 80-59, which addresses the alignment of flush fitting type fuel caps. This alignment is critical to ensure the proper operation of the fuel tank secondary vent system. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1980. Entities and operators of the affected Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes have specific obligations under this directive. They must ensure that the fuel cap alignment placard is correctly installed and that the fuel caps are aligned as specified in Cessna SIL No. SE 80-59. This involves inspecting the aircraft and taking any necessary corrective actions to align the fuel caps properly. Operators must also maintain records of compliance with this directive, including documentation of inspections and any corrective actions taken. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious operational issues, potentially compromising the safety of the aircraft. While the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance in this specific directive, general non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or other regulatory sanctions. The potential consequences underline the importance of adhering to the directive to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.