AD/CESSNA 206/35 - Cylinder Head Temperature Probe

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to ensure safety and compliance within the aviation industry. This legislative instrument, specifically PART 39 - 105, addresses the issue of airworthiness directives by establishing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 206/35, pertains to the Cessna 206 Series Aeroplanes, mandating the replacement of the cylinder head temperature probe. This directive was introduced to rectify a safety concern identified by the airframe manufacturer, which found that during critical flight stages, the hottest cylinder was cylinder No. 3, whereas the temperature probe was situated on cylinder No. 1. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1982, ensuring that the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are met.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, govern the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia, including the Cessna 206 Series Aeroplanes. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to Airworthiness Directives, with AD/CESSNA 206/35 addressing the Cylinder Head Temperature Probe for Model U206 aircraft with specified serial numbers. This directive applies to all operators of the specified Cessna 206 Series Aeroplanes within Australia, barring the serial numbers listed as exceptions. The regulation mandates compliance with Cessna SIL No. SE82-18, requiring corrective action within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 31 August 1982. This directive underscores the importance of monitoring cylinder head temperatures accurately to ensure safety during critical flight stages, particularly by relocating the temperature probe to the hottest cylinder, which is cylinder No. 3. The directive's exclusion of certain serial numbers indicates a targeted approach to address specific manufacturing concerns identified by the airframe manufacturer.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, focus on the Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the Cessna 206 Series Aeroplanes. Section AD/CESSNA 206/35 mandates a specific action concerning the Cylinder Head Temperature Probe, as outlined in Cessna SIL No. SE82-18. This directive applies to Model U206 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from U20604650 to U20606365, excluding certain serial numbers listed in the applicability section. The requirement is that the action be taken within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1982. These provisions impose specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected Cessna 206 aircraft. They must ensure that the necessary action, as outlined in the directive, is taken within the specified timeframe to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. This includes verifying the aircraft's serial number to confirm applicability, and then ensuring that the Cylinder Head Temperature Probe is repositioned to the hottest cylinder, which has been identified as cylinder No. 3, rather than cylinder No. 1 where it is currently located. Failure to comply with these directives can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, CASA has the authority to take action against entities that fail to comply with airworthiness directives, including issuing fines, grounding the aircraft, or taking legal action to ensure compliance. The exact penalties and consequences depend on the severity and circumstances of the non-compliance, but they can be significant both financially and operationally.