Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, form a comprehensive legal framework governing aviation safety within Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety standards and regulations to ensure the safety of the public, crew, and aircraft in the rapidly evolving aviation industry. One specific aspect of this regulation is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These ADs are designed to rectify unsafe conditions and ensure that aircraft remain airworthy. For instance, AD/CESSNA 188/44, issued on 7 July 2000, mandates inspections and necessary actions concerning fuel strainer assemblies in certain Cessna 188 series aeroplanes. The directive was introduced to address the risk of foreign material entering the engine fuel system, which could lead to engine power loss or complete engine stoppage during flight. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by requiring specific maintenance actions to prevent potential hazards.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to certain models of Cessna 188 (Agwagon) series aeroplanes, namely models 188, A188, 188A, A188A, 188B, A188B, T188C, and A-A188B. The directive mandates the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the fuel strainer assembly on aircraft fitted with specific parts shipped by Cessna between December 12, 1996, and September 5, 1997. The directive requires holders of a valid pilot licence, excluding student pilots, to review the aircraft records to determine if the specified parts have been installed. If the parts are not fitted, a certification stating that the directive does not apply can be entered into the aircraft records. The directive requires compliance within 12 calendar months from its effective date of 13 July 2000, and the specified actions must be completed before further flight. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 June 2000.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39, specifically the Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 188/44, concerns the inspection and replacement of the fuel strainer assembly on certain Cessna 188 series aeroplanes. Section (a) of the applicability states that this directive applies to models 188, A188, 188A, A188A, 188B, A188B, T188C and A-A188B, series aircraft. Section (b) of the requirement mandates that the aircraft fuel strainer assembly must be inspected, and if parts P/N 0756005-2, P/N 0756005-8 or P/N 0756005-9 were shipped from Cessna between December 12, 1996, and September 5, 1997, the standby pipe in the fuel strainer assembly must be measured to ensure a visible maximum length not exceeding 1.68 inches. This inspection must be carried out in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB97-9 dated November 17, 1997. If the standpipe tube exceeds the specified measurement, the filter strainer top assembly must be replaced. Under the obligations and requirements of this Act, the holder of a pilot licence, other than a student pilot, who holds a valid licence for the aircraft type, must review the aircraft records to determine if the parts listed in this Directive have been fitted to the aircraft. If the review concludes that the parts listed in this Directive have not been fitted, a certification stating that "This Directive does not apply as no parts listed in the Cessna SEB97-9 have been fitted to this aircraft" may be entered in the aircraft records. Furthermore, compliance with the directive requires that unless previously accomplished, the inspection and replacement must be carried out within 12 calendar months from the effective date of the Directive and prior to further flight. The consequences of non-compliance with this Airworthiness Directive are significant. The directive, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, carries potential civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Failure to comply with the inspection and replacement requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to operational restrictions or grounding. In addition, the potential for loss of engine power or complete engine stoppage in flight due to incorrectly installed fuel standpipes poses a severe safety risk, which could result in severe civil or criminal penalties. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the text, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally taken very seriously by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).