AD/CESSNA 310/16 - Nose Gear Uplock Torque Tube - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address the regulation of civil aviation safety across the country. This legislation aims to ensure that all civil aviation activities within Australia comply with stringent safety standards, thereby protecting the public from potential hazards associated with civil aviation. One of the specific legislative instruments under this act is AD/CESSNA 310/16, which focuses on the replacement of the nose gear uplock torque tube for Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all models with serial numbers ranging from 35000 to 310L0074 and mandates compliance within 500 hours of time in service following 14 February 1969. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of aircraft operations by addressing potential mechanical failures through targeted maintenance actions.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the legislative instrument F2006B08143, specifically addresses the airworthiness of Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes through the Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 310/16. This regulation applies to all models of the Cessna 310 Series with serial numbers ranging from 35000 to 310L0074. The directive mandates the replacement of the nose gear uplock torque tube, as outlined in the Cessna SL 67-22 Supplement 1, and requires compliance within 500 hours of time in service following the directive's issuance on 14 February 1969. The directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring the safety and airworthiness standards of these aircraft are met across the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislation does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but the application of the directive is contingent upon the specific operational conditions and maintenance schedules of the aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives. Specifically, AD/CESSNA 310/16 pertains to the nose gear uplock torque tube replacement for Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 35000 to 310L0074 (s 1). The directive mandates that all affected aircraft must comply within 500 hours of time in service after 14 February 1969 (s 2). The compliance document referenced is the Cessna SL 67-22 Supplement 1 (s 3). The primary obligations under AD/CESSNA 310/16 require operators of the specified Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes to replace the nose gear uplock torque tube as per the detailed instructions in the Cessna SL 67-22 Supplement 1. This replacement must be carried out within the stipulated timeframe of 500 hours of service after the specified date, ensuring that the aircraft maintain the necessary safety standards mandated by CASA (s 4). Compliance involves following the procedures outlined in the supplement, which likely includes detailed steps for the removal of the existing torque tube, the installation of a new one, and verification checks to ensure the replacement is correctly performed. Failure to comply with AD/CESSNA 310/16 can result in significant consequences. Operators of non-compliant aircraft may face enforcement actions from CASA, including potential fines or other regulatory penalties. The severity of these penalties can depend on the extent of non-compliance and any resultant safety risks. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not meet the airworthiness directive could lead to severe civil or criminal consequences if it is found to be a contributing factor in an aviation incident or accident (s 5). The exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, but they can typically include substantial monetary fines and possible imprisonment for individuals responsible for the non-compliance.