AD/CESSNA 207/22 - Flying Control System Turnbuckles

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. One of the specific legislative instruments within this framework is the Civil Aviation Order 1988, which includes Part 39 concerning airworthiness directives. This regulation was introduced to address safety concerns in specific aircraft models, ensuring they comply with international safety standards. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 207/22, pertains to Cessna 207 Series aeroplanes, specifically addressing potential issues with the flying control system turnbuckles. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate the risk of longitudinal cracks in the AN 155 brass turnbuckles, ensuring that the aircraft remain airworthy and safe for operation. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with specific actions required within a defined period to maintain the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety directives pertaining to the Cessna 207 series aeroplanes, focusing on the flying control system turnbuckles. This legislation applies to all Cessna model 207 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 2070374 to 2070563, demanding compliance with the Service Instruction Letter (SIL) No SE 80-16 issued by Cessna. The requirement necessitates actions to be taken within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 30 April 1980, to address potential issues such as longitudinal cracks in the AN 155 brass turnbuckles, which could compromise the integrity of the control system. The jurisdictional reach of this regulation is national, as it is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. No specific exclusions or exemptions are mentioned in the text, suggesting that all applicable aircraft must comply with the directive. The regulation may be further extended or specified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses the Cessna 207 Series Aeroplanes through AD/CESSNA 207/22. This directive applies to all model 207 Cessna aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/Nos) ranging from 2070374 to 2070563. The directive mandates action in accordance with Cessna Service Information Letter (SIL) No SE 80-16, which details the necessary modifications and inspections to ensure the airworthiness of the flying control system turnbuckles. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1980. The directive was issued due to the identified risk of longitudinal cracks in the AN 155 brass turnbuckles of the control system, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft. Under this legislation, the primary obligation for the owners and operators of the affected Cessna 207 aircraft is to adhere to the specified action outlined in Cessna SIL No SE 80-16. This involves inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the AN 155 brass turnbuckles to prevent the development of longitudinal cracks. The directive mandates that these actions be taken within a specific timeframe, ensuring that any potential safety hazards are addressed promptly. Operators must ensure that their maintenance personnel are adequately trained to perform the required inspections and repairs, and that all work is logged appropriately to demonstrate compliance. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/CESSNA 207/22 may result in serious safety implications, and the legislation does not explicitly state penalties in the provided excerpt. However, under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe consequences. These can include fines, potential grounding of the aircraft, and other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In cases where non-compliance leads to accidents or incidents, the penalties can be significantly more severe, including criminal charges against individuals and entities responsible for the oversight of the aircraft. CASA has the authority to impose substantial financial penalties and may also seek court orders to prevent further non-compliance.