COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 208 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 208/7 Flap Bellcrank 5/90 DM
Applicability: Model 208 and 208A: S/N 20800001 to 20800173.
208B: S/N 208B0001 to 208B0202.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Cessna SB CAB 89-34.
Note: FAA AD 90-05-01 refers.
Compliance: Inspect within 50 hours time in service after 11 April 1990. If cracked or deformed replace prior to further flight. If welds are incomplete or omitted replace the bellcrank within the next 50 hours time in service.
Background: The FAA has received reports of failure of this bellcrank which has led to sudden unexpected flap retraction. The failures have occurred due to incomplete welding during fabrication.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, address safety and operational standards for aircraft in Australia, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations are essential for ensuring that civil aviation operations meet safety standards and comply with international conventions. AD/CESSNA 208/7, enacted to address the specific issue of flap bellcrank failure in Cessna 208 Series aeroplanes, aims to prevent potential catastrophic events resulting from incomplete welding during the manufacturing process. This directive mandates regular inspections and necessary repairs to ensure the structural integrity and operational safety of affected aircraft, thereby safeguarding public safety in air travel.
The policy objective behind AD/CESSNA 208/7 is to mitigate the risk of flap bellcrank failure, which has been linked to incomplete or omitted welds during fabrication, leading to sudden and unexpected flap retraction. By enforcing stringent inspection and repair protocols within specified time frames, the directive aims to prevent potential mid-flight failures that could compromise aircraft safety. This proactive approach aligns with broader aviation safety policies, ensuring that aircraft operations adhere to rigorous safety standards and maintaining the trust and safety of the flying public.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness directives for the Cessna 208 series aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/CESSNA 208/7. This legislation applies to all aircraft within the specified model series and serial number ranges: Model 208 and 208A with serial numbers 20800001 to 20800173 and Model 208B with serial numbers 208B0001 to 208B0202. The requirement pertains to the inspection and replacement of the flap bellcrank to ensure safety, following the directive outlined in Cessna SB CAB 89-34, which references FAA AD 90-05-01. The inspection must be conducted within 50 hours of time in service after 11 April 1990, with the bellcrank replaced if cracked, deformed, or if the welds are incomplete or omitted, before further flights. This directive is issued due to reported failures of the bellcrank leading to unexpected flap retraction, attributed to incomplete welding during the fabrication process.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Cessna 208 Series aeroplanes, identified as AD/CESSNA 208/7. This directive mandates specific actions concerning the flap bellcrank to ensure safety (Section 1). The directive applies to Model 208 and 208A aeroplanes with serial numbers 20800001 to 20800173 and Model 208B aeroplanes with serial numbers 208B0001 to 208B0202. It requires compliance with Cessna Service Bulletin CAB 89-34, which addresses issues identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in AD 90-05-01 (Section 2).
The AD imposes obligations on operators of the specified Cessna aeroplanes to inspect the flap bellcrank within 50 hours of time in service after 11 April 1990. Operators must ensure that if the bellcrank is found to be cracked or deformed, it is replaced before any further flight. Additionally, if the bellcrank welds are incomplete or omitted, the part must be replaced within the next 50 hours of time in service. This requirement aims to prevent sudden unexpected flap retraction, which has been reported due to incomplete welding during fabrication (Section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD/CESSNA 208/7 directive can lead to significant safety risks. The regulations do not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance within the provided text, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in severe civil and criminal penalties. This may include fines, grounding of the aircraft, and potential criminal charges against responsible parties. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain aviation safety standards (Section 4).