Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, established by the Australian Parliament, form a comprehensive framework governing the safety and operation of civil aviation within Australia. One of the instruments under this act, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the safety and maintenance requirements for aircraft, including the Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address issues related to the presence of primer particles in the fuel system, which could potentially compromise the safety of the aircraft. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that the aircraft maintain airworthiness by requiring inspections and possible repairs as specified by the manufacturer's Service Bulletin No. CAB 87-14, with compliance required post 20 November 1987. This legislative instrument aims to mitigate risks associated with operational safety by mandating specific actions to inspect and address any contamination or structural issues in the fuel reservoir tank and wing fuel bays of the specified Cessna models. By setting out these requirements, the regulations seek to uphold the highest safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting both the aircraft and the passengers onboard.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the applicability of airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models, including the Cessna 208 series aeroplanes. These regulations apply to specific serial numbers of the models 208, 208A, and 208B, namely from 20800001 through 20800108 for models 208 and 208A, and from 208B0001 through 208B0008 for model 208B. The legislation requires compliance with the Cessna Service Bulletin No. CAB 87-14, which mandates that a fuel sample must be taken and inspected for primer particles in the fuel system. Should primer particles be detected, further inspections and potential repairs to the fuel reservoir tank and/or wing fuel bays are required, with adherence to these provisions to be completed following the 20 November 1987 date of the Requirement document. These regulations establish a clear and specific set of standards for maintaining airworthiness, ensuring that certain Cessna 208 series aeroplanes meet necessary safety criteria.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes. This particular AD, AD/CESSNA 208/2, pertains to the fuel reservoir tank and wing fuel bay primer. The directive applies to certain models and serial numbers of the Cessna 208, specifically Models 208 and 208A with serial numbers ranging from 20800001 through 20800108, and Model 208B with serial numbers from 208B0001 through 208B0008. The directive mandates actions in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin (S.B.) No. CAB 87-14 and requires compliance to be achieved by 20 November 1987, as noted in the 1/88 DM. The obligations imposed by this directive on the relevant parties, including operators and owners of the specified aircraft models, are to take a fuel sample and have it inspected for primer particles within the fuel system. This inspection is a critical step to determine whether further action is necessary. If primer particles are detected, additional inspections and potential repairs to the fuel reservoir tank and/or wing fuel bays are required. These actions are essential to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. Non-compliance with the AD/CESSNA 208/2 directive can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose penalties and sanctions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, non-compliance could result in fines, operational restrictions, or even the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken. The severity of the penalties may depend on the extent of non-compliance and the risk posed to aviation safety. Operators and owners must therefore ensure that they adhere to the directive to avoid these potential repercussions.