AD/CESSNA 310/14 - Fin Spar Attachment Bolts - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were designed to provide comprehensive regulations for the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations addresses airworthiness directives, with a focus on ensuring that aircraft and their components meet stringent safety standards. AD/CESSNA 310/14, introduced as part of this legislation, aims to address a specific safety concern with the Cessna 310 series aeroplanes by requiring inspections of fin spar attachment bolts. This directive applies to all models 310K and 310L within specified serial number ranges, with compliance mandated within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1967. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by mitigating the risk of structural failure related to these bolts.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, pertains to airworthiness directives issued for the maintenance and safety of aircraft within Australian airspace. These regulations apply to all operators and owners of specific models of aircraft, in this instance, the Cessna 310K and 310L series, with serial numbers falling within the specified range. The directives mandate compliance within a defined timeframe, ensuring that maintenance procedures are followed to uphold the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. These regulations extend to all aircraft registered within Australia, and compliance is mandatory for all commercial and private operators of the affected aircraft models. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of this directive, and failure to comply may result in penalties or grounding of the aircraft. The scope of this regulation is further defined and potentially extended through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which may provide additional details or clarifications on the implementation and compliance requirements.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, pertain to specific airworthiness directives for particular aircraft models, such as the Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes. Section 39-105(1) mandates that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issue directives to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft. The directive in question, AD/CESSNA 310/14, specifically addresses fin spar attachment bolts and requires an inspection to be performed on certain models of Cessna 310 aeroplanes (sections 39-105(2) and 39-105(3)). This directive applies to all Cessna 310K models with serial numbers from 310K-0235 to 310K-0245 and all Cessna 310L models with serial numbers from 310L-0001 to 310L-0140 (section 39-105(4)). The obligations imposed by the regulations include ensuring that the specified aircraft models comply with the airworthiness directive by conducting the necessary inspection of the fin spar attachment bolts. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after the directive was issued on 30 November 1967. This requirement is detailed in section 39-105(5), which stipulates that the inspection must be documented in the aircraft's maintenance records. The directive references Cessna Service Letter No. 67-45, which provides detailed instructions and specifications for the inspection process. The operator or owner of the aircraft is responsible for ensuring that the inspection is carried out by a suitably qualified individual and that all findings are properly recorded. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive and the inspection requirements can result in significant consequences. Section 39-105(6) outlines that non-compliance may lead to penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which can include fines and other sanctions. In the event of a serious breach, there may be additional civil or criminal consequences, including the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspection is performed and any necessary repairs are completed. The exact penalties depend on the severity and circumstances of the breach, but they can be substantial, reflecting the importance of maintaining airworthiness standards to ensure public safety.