AD/CESSNA 310/33 Amdt 1 - Wing and Airframe

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning Airworthiness Directives, addresses critical safety concerns for the Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes through AD/CESSNA 310/33 Amendment 1. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation was introduced to ensure the safety of aircraft operations by addressing specific structural integrity issues identified in the Cessna 310 Series. The policy objective is to mandate the retirement of specific aircraft components to prevent potential structural failures and enhance flight safety. The primary focus is on the wing main spar lower cap and wing upper and lower attachment fittings, requiring their retirement before certain service limits are reached, to mitigate the risk of fatigue-related failures. Additionally, the regulation extends the life of the remaining airframe under certain conditions, but requires substantiation for any extensions beyond double the life of the wing spar to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety and airworthiness of aircraft through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on the Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument applies to all Cessna Model 310 Series aircraft, mandating specific requirements to ensure continued safe operation. The directive requires the retirement of the wing main spar lower cap and wing upper and lower attachment fittings before the aircraft exceeds 19,200 hours of service or 29,500 flights, whichever occurs first, while the remainder of the airframe must be retired before the aircraft reaches 38,400 hours of service or 59,000 flights. Notably, this regulation does not affect the centre section spar caps and attachment fittings. For aircraft where the number of flights is unknown, an estimate can be made by dividing the total hours flown by an average flight time of 0.5 hours. The directive also allows for potential extensions beyond the specified retirement limits, provided the applicant can substantiate the continued airworthiness through fatigue substantiation covering all remaining primary structure. The scope of this regulation is enforced across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying uniformly to all relevant aircraft within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, mandate specific airworthiness directives for the Cessna 310 Series aeroplanes, as detailed in AD/CESSNA 310/33 Amendment 1, which pertains to the wing and airframe (sections 1 and 2). This legislation applies to all Cessna Model 310 Series aircraft and outlines two primary requirements. Firstly, the wing main spar lower cap and the wing upper and lower attachment fittings must be retired from service (section 1). Secondly, the remainder of the airframe must also be retired from service (section 2). It is crucial to note that the centre section spar caps and attachment fittings are not subject to these requirements. The obligations under this Act necessitate that operators of Cessna 310 Series aircraft comply with the stipulated service life limits. Specifically, the wing main spar lower cap and the wing upper and lower attachment fittings must be retired before the aircraft accumulates 19,200 hours of time in service or 29,500 flights, whichever comes first (section 1(1)). Similarly, the entire airframe must be retired before the aircraft reaches 38,400 hours of time in service or 59,000 flights, whichever occurs first (section 1(2)). For aircraft with an unknown flight count, an estimate must be derived by dividing the total flight hours by an average flight duration of 0.5 hours (section 1(1) Note 1). Failure to adhere to these airworthiness directives may result in serious legal and safety consequences. The Act does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance; however, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, penalties for breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations can include substantial fines and potential imprisonment. Operators found in breach of these directives may also face additional enforcement actions, such as grounding of the aircraft, until compliance is achieved. It is imperative that operators ensure strict adherence to these directives to maintain airworthiness and avoid severe repercussions.