Overview

The Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 210/72 was issued in 2003 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address the safety issue of electrical wiring associated with the cigar lighter in certain Cessna 210 Series aeroplanes. The directive was enacted to prevent incidents such as shorting of unprotected electrical wiring, which could lead to in-flight electrical system failure, smoke in the cockpit, and potential fires in the wire bundle behind the instrument panel. CASA issued this directive under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aiming to mandate necessary actions to rectify the identified unsafe conditions. The directive applies specifically to Model 210 and T210 series aeroplanes with particular serial numbers and requires the disconnection of the electrical wiring connecting the bus to the cigar lighter receptacle, followed by either the installation of a properly rated circuit protection device, disconnection and removal of the wire from the aeroplane, or insulation and securing of the wire's disconnected end. Compliance with these requirements must be completed at the next annual inspection, but no later than 100 hours of time in service or 12 months after the directive's effective date, whichever comes first.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies specifically to the Model 210 and T210 series aeroplanes manufactured by Cessna, within the serial number ranges specified. This directive mandates that certain actions be undertaken to rectify an unsafe condition associated with the wiring of the cigar lighter in these aircraft. The specified corrective measures are to be implemented if they have not been previously addressed in accordance with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive. The directive applies to all aircraft falling under the mentioned model and serial number specifications, irrespective of their location within Australia, thereby encompassing the entire national jurisdiction. The directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003, and compliance is required at the next annual inspection, but no later than 100 hours of time in service or 12 months from the effective date, whichever comes first. The directive is designed to prevent in-flight electrical system failures, cockpit smoke, and potential fires arising from the unprotected wiring of the cigar lighter.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CESSNA 210/72 issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains to the Cessna 210 Series aeroplanes, specifically models 210 and T210 with the listed serial numbers. The AD mandates specific actions to be taken on the wiring connected to the cigar lighter receptacle to mitigate safety risks (section 1). The requirement necessitates the disconnection of the wire that connects the bus to the cigar lighter receptacle if it has not been previously addressed. Following this disconnection, the directive provides three options: either reconnecting the wire to the electrical bus using an appropriately rated circuit protection device (section 2a), disconnecting the wire from the lighter receptacle and removing it from the aeroplane (section 2b), or insulating the disconnected end of the wire, folding it back against the wire bundle, and securing it to that bundle (section 2c). The AD imposes several obligations on the operators or owners of the affected Cessna 210 Series aeroplanes. Primarily, they must ensure that the specified wiring modifications are implemented in accordance with the directive’s instructions (section 2). The compliance period is set to either the next annual inspection, whichever comes first, or 100 hours of time in service or 12 months after the AD's effective date, which is 20 March 2003 (section 3). The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 February 2003, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed of the required safety measures. Failure to comply with the AD could result in serious safety risks, including in-flight electrical system failures, smoke in the cockpit, and potential fires in the wire bundle behind the instrument panel. While the AD itself does not explicitly detail specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance, it is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, and non-compliance with such directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, orders for corrective action, and potentially more severe consequences if the non-compliance results in an accident or incident. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the regulatory framework governing such breaches.