AD/CESSNA 206/7 - Control Systems

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to establish and enforce regulations concerning the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One aspect of this legislation is the scheduling of airworthiness directives, such as AD/CESSNA 206/7, which applies to specific models of Cessna 206 Series aeroplanes. This directive, introduced to address potential safety issues with the control systems of the affected aircraft, aims to ensure that maintenance and actions are carried out in compliance with the specified standards. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by mandating specific maintenance actions within a defined timeframe. The enactment of these regulations by the Commonwealth of Australia’s Parliament is intended to mitigate risks associated with the operation of these aircraft by enforcing compliance with the prescribed airworthiness directives. By specifying the serial numbers of the affected models and the required compliance timeline, the legislation ensures that necessary safety measures are implemented promptly, thereby protecting the integrity and safety of civil aviation operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that the Airworthiness Directives apply to all Cessna 206 series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from P206-00573 to P206-00619 and U206-01321 to U206-01445. This regulation is applicable on a national scale across Australia, encompassing all operators, pilots, and maintenance personnel involved with these specified aircraft models. The directive requires compliance with the action outlined in Cessna Service Letter SL SE69-28, which must be implemented within 100 hours of time in service following 29 April 1970. The scope of this legislation extends to ensuring that the control systems of these aircraft meet specific safety standards, and it does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds other than the specified serial numbers and timeframe for compliance. The application of this directive can be further detailed or expanded through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The primary operative section of this regulation, AD/CESSNA 206/7, applies to all Cessna 206 series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from P206-00573 to P206-00619 and U206-01321 to U206-01445 (Section 1). This section mandates that action must be taken in accordance with Cessna Service Letter (SL) SE69-28, which outlines the specific requirements for addressing control systems in these aircraft (Section 2). Compliance with this directive must occur within 100 hours of time in service after 29 April 1970 (Section 3). Under this Act, the entities governed, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, have specific obligations to ensure that the mandated actions are taken promptly and in accordance with the specified procedures (Section 4). They must ensure that the control systems of the affected Cessna 206 series aeroplanes are inspected and, if necessary, modified or repaired to meet the requirements of Cessna SL SE69-28. Failure to comply with this directive within the specified timeframe may result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which could lead to operational restrictions or grounding. The regulation imposes significant consequences for non-compliance. Operators and maintenance providers who fail to adhere to the requirements of AD/CESSNA 206/7 may face both civil and criminal penalties (Section 5). Civil penalties may include fines and other financial sanctions, while criminal penalties could result in imprisonment. The exact penalties are determined by the severity of the breach and are set out in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. It is crucial for those governed by this regulation to understand and comply with the directive to avoid these serious consequences.