AD/CESSNA 188/18 - Main Landing Gear Leg Attachment Bolts

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through the legislative instrument F2006B05153, were enacted by the Australian Parliament to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within the country. The particular focus of this legislative instrument is on maintaining the airworthiness of specific aircraft models, exemplified by the inclusion of directives for the Cessna 188 (Agwagon) Series Aeroplanes. The problem this legislation addresses is the need for standardised maintenance practices to ensure that aircraft meet specific safety standards, particularly for critical components such as the main landing gear. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with aircraft operations by enforcing rigorous inspection and maintenance protocols. This legislative instrument aims to ensure the continued safety and reliability of aircraft by mandating the inspection of inboard main landing gear to fuselage attachment bolts, ensuring they are of the specified type and torqued to the correct values, thereby maintaining the overall airworthiness of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, mandates adherence to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for all aircraft operating within Australia. This includes the Cessna 188 (Agwagon) series aeroplanes, which are subject to AD/CESSNA 188/18 concerning the main landing gear leg attachment bolts. This regulation applies to all models of the specified aircraft and requires the inspection and maintenance of the inboard main landing gear to fuselage attachment bolts, ensuring they are of NAS 152-88 type and are torqued to the correct value. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 30 November 1972, and subsequently, inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, as they pertain to all aircraft operating within Australia under the purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, contain an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all models of Cessna 188 (Agwagon) Series aeroplanes. The directive, identified as AD/CESSNA 188/18, focuses on the main landing gear leg attachment bolts. According to section 11/72, the directive requires that the inboard main landing gear to fuselage attachment bolts must be of NAS 152-88 type and torqued to the specified correct value. This inspection is mandated within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1972, and thereafter, the inspection must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The obligations imposed by this directive require all operators of Cessna 188 (Agwagon) Series aeroplanes to ensure that the specified bolts are correctly installed and torqued. This includes conducting thorough inspections to verify the type of bolts and their torque settings. Operators must maintain records of these inspections and ensure that any necessary repairs or replacements are carried out in accordance with the directive. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the operators to ensure that all personnel involved in the inspection and maintenance processes are adequately trained and qualified to perform these tasks. Failure to comply with the requirements of this airworthiness directive can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an airworthiness directive can result in enforcement actions being taken against the operator. Potential penalties may include fines, and in severe cases, the suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s certificate of airworthiness. The seriousness of the breach and the potential risk to safety will influence the severity of the penalties imposed. For instance, if the non-compliance is deemed to pose a significant safety risk, the penalties could be substantial, including both financial penalties and operational restrictions on the aircraft in question.