AD/CESSNA 188/34 - Flying Control System Turnbuckles

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, encompass a broad array of rules and directives aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. One such directive is found in Part 39, specifically addressing the airworthiness directives for various aircraft types. For instance, AD/CESSNA 188/34 pertains to the Cessna 188 (Agwagon) series aeroplanes and mandates specific maintenance actions to rectify issues with the flying control system turnbuckles. This directive was introduced to address the identified safety risk of longitudinal cracks in certain turnbuckles, which could compromise the integrity and control of the aircraft. The objective of this regulation is to ensure compliance with the specified maintenance actions within a designated timeframe, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft models. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the body responsible for the enforcement and oversight of these regulations. The policy objective behind AD/CESSNA 188/34 is to mitigate the risk of in-flight failure due to the identified structural weaknesses in the turnbuckles, thus enhancing overall aviation safety. The directive requires all model 188 Cessna aeroplanes with serial numbers within the specified range to adhere to the corrective actions outlined in the Cessna SIL SE 80-16, within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to all model 188 Cessna 188 (Agwagon) Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 18802851 to 18803522. This regulation mandates compliance with the requirements outlined in the Cessna SIL SE 80-16, which pertains to the inspection and potential replacement of certain flying control system turnbuckles. The directive necessitates that any action required by this safety directive must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980. The regulation's scope is limited to addressing the issue of longitudinal cracks that may develop in the AN 155 brass turnbuckles used in the aeroplane's control system, which could compromise the aircraft's safety. This regulation applies nationally within Australia, under the purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and its application is enforced across all states and territories within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the scope of applicability to the identified serial numbers and the timeframe provided for compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically Part 39 - 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Cessna 188 (Agwagon) series aeroplanes. This AD, identified as AD/CESSNA 188/34, mandates specific actions concerning the flying control system turnbuckles. According to section 39 - 105, the directive applies to all model 188 aircraft with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 18802851 to 18803522. The requirement outlined in this AD is that the action must be taken in accordance with Cessna SIL SE 80-16, which is a service letter issued by Cessna. This service letter is intended to address the potential issue of longitudinal cracks in some of the AN 155 brass turnbuckles used in the control system. Compliance with this AD must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Owners and operators of the specified Cessna 188 series aeroplanes must ensure that the required action is carried out in line with Cessna SIL SE 80-16. This includes inspecting and potentially replacing the AN 155 brass turnbuckles to prevent any longitudinal cracks from compromising the integrity of the flying control system. The AD also mandates that these actions are completed within the specified timeframe to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Additionally, the AD may require that the work be performed by certified personnel, ensuring that the repairs or replacements are conducted to the appropriate safety standards. Breaching the requirements of this AD can result in serious consequences. The AD is designed to ensure the safety of flight operations, and non-compliance could potentially lead to the failure of the flying control system, which could endanger the aircraft and its occupants. While the CAR 1998 does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance with this particular AD, general provisions in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 provide for potential civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties can include fines, while criminal penalties may include imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of failing to adhere to airworthiness directives. These consequences underscore the importance of strict compliance with the AD to ensure the highest standards of aviation safety.