COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 208/5 Door Lock Pin 4/89
Applicability: Models 208 and 208A with S/Nos 20800001 through 20800129.
Model 208B with S/Nos 208B0001 through 208B0083.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Cessna SB CAB 89-3.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 20 April 1989 or at the next Scheduled Inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 20 April 1989 whichever is the later.
Background: The manufacturer has determined that replacing existing door lock pins with strengthened items will assist in preventing malfunction of door latch mechanism.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework governing civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental protection within the industry. Specifically, Part 39 addresses the safety of aircraft, and Schedule 105 pertains to airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable safety rules. The enactment of these regulations was necessary to address gaps in aircraft safety standards and to provide clear, enforceable guidelines to ensure the highest safety levels in civil aviation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, operating under the authority of the Australian Government, is responsible for creating and enforcing these regulations, with the overarching policy objective of maintaining and enhancing the safety of Australia's civil aviation operations.
One specific airworthiness directive, AD/CESSNA 208/5, pertains to the door lock pin of Cessna 208 series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address a safety concern identified by the manufacturer regarding the potential malfunction of the door latch mechanism. The directive mandates that affected aircraft models undergo a replacement of the existing door lock pins with strengthened versions to mitigate this risk. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 20 April 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release, whichever is later, ensuring that the safety of the aircraft is maintained through timely and effective action.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to certain aircraft models within the Australian jurisdiction. This particular directive, AD/CESSNA 208/5, concerns the replacement of door lock pins on Cessna 208 Series aeroplanes, including models 208, 208A, and 208B, with specific serial number ranges. The directive mandates that the action be taken in accordance with the Cessna Service Bulletin CAB 89-3 to address potential malfunctions in the door latch mechanism. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of the aeroplane's time in service after 20 April 1989, or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after that date, whichever is later. The directive does not extend to any aircraft outside the specified serial number ranges or models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes a directive (AD/CESSNA 208/5) concerning the door lock pin for the Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes (sections 208 and 208A with serial numbers 20800001 through 20800129, and model 208B with serial numbers 208B0001 through 208B0083). This directive mandates that operators must replace the existing door lock pins with strengthened items to prevent any malfunction of the door latch mechanism (AD/CESSNA 208/5). Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 20 April 1989, or at the next Scheduled Inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 20 April 1989, whichever is the later (AD/CESSNA 208/5).
The obligations imposed by this regulation are quite clear. Operators of the specified models and serial numbers of Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the replacement of the door lock pins is carried out in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin (SB) CAB 89-3 (AD/CESSNA 208/5). This action is necessary to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft, as the strengthened door lock pins are intended to prevent malfunctions that could compromise the safety of the aircraft's operations. The compliance deadline is either within 100 hours of service after 20 April 1989, or at the next Scheduled Inspection for Maintenance Release issue after the same date (AD/CESSNA 208/5).
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD/CESSNA 208/5 directive may result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an airworthiness directive is an offence (Part 39 - 105). The specific penalties for such an offence are not detailed in the excerpt provided, but generally, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe penalties. These may include fines and potential criminal charges for those responsible for the aircraft's operation. In severe cases, the aircraft may be grounded, and the operator could face substantial financial penalties and reputational damage. Therefore, it is crucial for operators to adhere strictly to the timelines and specifications outlined in the directive to avoid these repercussions.