Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 208/15 in 2004 to address a safety issue identified with certain Cessna 208 series aeroplanes. The directive was issued in response to a reported incident of loose or improperly locked nuts on the wing struts upper attachment bolts, which could potentially lead to failure of the wing structure and loss of control of the aircraft. The directive applies to specific Model 208 and Model 208B aircraft serial numbers and mandates actions to ensure the correct cotter pins are installed and the nuts are properly tightened. The policy objective of the AD is to correct the unsafe condition and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. This Airworthiness Directive was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and became effective on 12 May 2004.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 208/15 pertains specifically to certain Model 208 and Model 208B aircraft, with particular serial numbers, and mandates actions to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft. This directive applies to aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel responsible for the maintenance and operation of the specified aircraft. The AD is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies nationally within Australia, aligning with the overarching framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) 1998. The directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, indicating that the required actions must be adhered to by all relevant parties operating within Australia. The directive can be further extended or modified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA, ensuring the continuous safety and compliance of the affected aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CESSNA 208/15, issued by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), pertains specifically to certain models of the Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes (section 1). This AD is in response to reports of loose or improperly locked nuts on the wing struts upper attachment bolts, which could lead to significant structural failure and loss of control of the aircraft (section 2). The directive requires specific actions to be taken on designated serial numbers of Model 208 and Model 208B aircraft to address the identified unsafe condition (section 3). In terms of the requirements set out in the AD, operators must check that the correct cotter pins are installed on the upper and lower wing strut attach fittings. Specifically, a part number MS24665-360 cotter pin must be installed on each part number MS 17826-14 nut on the upper wing strut attach fittings, and a part number MS24665-357 cotter pin must be installed on each part number MS17826-12 nut on the lower wing strut attach fittings. This inspection and any necessary corrective action must be carried out in accordance with Cessna Special Service Project No. SSP04-2, dated 5 April 2004, and the applicable aircraft maintenance manual (section 4). If the specified cotter pins are not installed, operators must tighten the corresponding nuts, align the nut castellations and cotter pin hole, and install the correct cotter pins (section 5). The AD imposes obligations on aircraft operators to ensure that the specified checks and corrective actions are performed in a timely manner. The directive mandates that these actions be completed within 10 hours of the aircraft being in service after 12 May 2004, unless they have already been performed. Additionally, the actions must be completed before any further flight after the initial inspection (section 6). Failure to comply with this AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could prevent it from operating until the required actions are taken. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences stated within the AD itself. However, non-compliance with ADs can result in significant regulatory consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. These may include fines, enforcement actions, and the potential grounding of the affected aircraft, all of which are intended to ensure that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants is not compromised. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with CASA regulations can include substantial fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach.