AD/CESSNA 185/39 Amdt 1 - Bladder Type Fuel Cells

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through legislative instruments such as F2006B05130, aim to maintain and enhance the safety standards within the aviation sector in Australia. This particular regulation, included in Part 39 - 105, addresses the specific maintenance requirements for Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes, particularly concerning bladder type fuel cells. The regulation was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, reflecting the overarching policy objective to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft through stringent maintenance directives. It targets a specific issue identified with the fuel cells of certain Cessna models, mandating thorough inspections and maintenance actions to prevent potential hazards arising from wrinkles or folds in the bladders, thereby ensuring continued airworthiness of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes, with Amendment 1B addressing bladder type fuel cells. This legislation applies to all models of Cessna 185 aeroplanes with serial numbers as listed in Cessna SIL SE 84-4, imposing a mandatory requirement for the inspection of fuel cells and the recording of results in the aircraft logbook. The directive mandates that fuel cells exhibiting wrinkles or folds should have their fuel systems purged of moisture or other contaminants. Compliance with this regulation is required for aircraft that have not been modified in accordance with Cessna SIL SE 84-9, Rev. 1, mandating inspections before further flight after 31 August 1984 for existing cells and upon installation of any new cell after this date. For aircraft modified in accordance with the specified SIL, further inspection and purging procedures are required when future cell replacements are made. Additionally, for those aircraft that have already complied with the previous issue of this directive, a logbook entry must be made before the issuance of the next Maintenance Release after 30 June 1985. This regulation ensures the continued airworthiness and safety of the specified aircraft models by addressing potential issues with bladder type fuel cells.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Cessna 185 Series Aeroplanes. Under this schedule, AD/CESSNA 185/39 Amendment 1B pertains to bladder type fuel cells (section 6/85). The directive applies to all Cessna 185 models with specific serial numbers detailed in Cessna SIL SE 84-4. The primary requirement is that fuel cells must be inspected according to the specifications in Cessna SIL SE 84-4 and the results recorded in the aircraft logbook. If any cells show wrinkles or folds, the fuel system must be purged of moisture or other contaminants. Additional details on fuel system purging are available in Cessna Owner Advisory SE 82-36A. The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and specific. For aircraft not modified in accordance with Cessna SIL SE 84-9, Rev. 1, inspections must be completed before further flight after 31 August 1984 for existing cells and at the installation of any new cell after that date. For cells that initially showed unacceptable wrinkles or folds, the system purging procedures must be repeated at each new Maintenance Release. For aircraft modified in accordance with Cessna SIL SE 84-9, Rev. 1, further inspections and adherence to SIL SE 84-9 Rev 1 are required when future cell replacements are needed. Additionally, for aircraft that have already complied with the previous version of this directive, the logbook entry must be made before the next Maintenance Release after 30 June 1985. Failure to comply with the provisions of this directive can result in significant consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance in the provided text, but non-compliance with CASA directives can generally lead to enforcement actions. These actions might include grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved, fines, or other regulatory sanctions. The severity of these consequences can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the discretion of CASA. It is crucial for operators and maintenance personnel to adhere to these directives to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.