COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 185/38
Amdt 1
Rudder Pedal Torque Tube 2/85
Applicability: All models fitted with early design rudder pedal torque tubes P/N 0760012 - (all dash numbers).
Requirement: Visually inspect the rudder pedal torque tubes for cracking in the vicinity of the welded joints between the torque tube and the pedal arm spigots.
Compliance: Prior to issue of the next Maintenance Release after 30 April 1984, and thereafter at each issue of a new Maintenance Release.
Background: Several failures of rudder pedal torque tubes have occurred in Cessna 185 aircraft causing loss of rudder and braking control.
This Directive has been amended to restrict inspections to early design P/N 0760012 rudder pedal torque tubes. These are the only ones known to have failed in service. Later designs incorporated welded reinforcement straps at the pedal arm attachments.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directives are a crucial part of maintaining the safety standards within Australia's aviation industry, as laid out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Specifically, AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amendment 1, which focuses on the inspection of rudder pedal torque tubes for Cessna 185 series aeroplanes, addresses the problem of potential failures in these critical components. Enacted to enhance aviation safety, this legislation mandates visual inspections of specified rudder pedal torque tubes to prevent catastrophic failures that could result in loss of control. The policy objective is clear: to ensure the structural integrity of aircraft components, thereby protecting lives and maintaining the high safety standards of Australian civil aviation. The directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to enforce compliance with these safety measures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amendment 1, pertains to all Cessna 185 series aeroplanes equipped with early design rudder pedal torque tubes bearing part number 0760012, irrespective of the dash number. This legislation applies directly to aircraft maintenance and operational personnel who must ensure compliance with the directive’s requirements. The geographic scope of this directive is inherently national, given its issuance under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 which are applicable throughout Australia. The directive mandates a visual inspection of the specified rudder pedal torque tubes for any signs of cracking near the welded joints between the torque tube and the pedal arm spigots. This inspection is required to be performed prior to the issuance of the next Maintenance Release following 30 April 1984, and subsequently at each new Maintenance Release. The directive was prompted by several incidents where the failure of rudder pedal torque tubes led to a loss of rudder and braking control, and has since been amended to focus inspections on the early design torque tubes, which are the only ones documented to have failed in service. Later designs, which include welded reinforcement straps at the pedal arm attachments, are not subject to this directive.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, contains the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Cessna 185 Series aeroplanes, which is detailed in AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amendment 1 (AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amdt 1). This directive addresses the critical issue of rudder pedal torque tube cracking in certain models of Cessna 185 aircraft. The directive mandates that all Cessna 185 models fitted with early design rudder pedal torque tubes, specifically P/N 0760012, must undergo a visual inspection for cracks in the area of the welded joints between the torque tube and the pedal arm spigots (Section 105.05). This inspection is crucial to prevent the failure of the torque tubes which can lead to a loss of rudder and braking control.
The AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amdt 1 requires that the specified inspection be performed prior to the issuance of the next Maintenance Release following 30 April 1984, and subsequently, at each new Maintenance Release (Section 105.06). This ongoing compliance ensures that the integrity of the rudder pedal torque tubes is continuously monitored and maintained, thereby enhancing the safety of the aircraft. The directive has been amended to limit the inspections to early design rudder pedal torque tubes, P/N 0760012, as these are the only ones known to have failed in service. Subsequent designs have incorporated welded reinforcement straps at the pedal arm attachments to mitigate this risk.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amdt 1 can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with the mandated inspections could lead to the failure of the rudder pedal torque tubes, which, as noted, has previously resulted in the loss of rudder and braking control. Such failures can have severe implications for flight safety, potentially leading to accidents. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not outlined in the text, breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations can generally result in substantial fines, enforcement actions, or even criminal charges depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety.
In summary, AD/CESSNA 185/38 Amdt 1 is a critical directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aimed at ensuring the safety of Cessna 185 Series aeroplanes by mandating regular inspections of early design rudder pedal torque tubes. Compliance with this directive is essential to prevent the potential catastrophic failure of these components, thereby safeguarding the integrity and safety of the aircraft.