AD/CESSNA 310/37 - Tip Tank Fuel Seepage - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, establish comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation safety within Australia. Among these regulations is Part 39, which includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives aimed at ensuring that aircraft meet the necessary safety standards. One such directive is AD/CESSNA 310/37, which addresses tip tank fuel seepage in Cessna 310 series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the specific safety issue of fuel seepage in the wing tip fuel tanks, which could potentially lead to hazardous conditions during flight. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate regular inspections to prevent fuel seepage, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft models and ensuring the safety of all those involved in civil aviation activities. The directive applies to all Cessna 310 series aeroplanes equipped with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap, as detailed in the referenced documents Cessna SL ME73-4 and FAA AD 75-05-08. Compliance with this directive requires inspections to be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1975, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours. This regulatory measure is intended to mitigate the risk associated with fuel seepage by ensuring that any issues are identified and rectified in a timely manner, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to all Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes that are fitted with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap. This regulation is intended to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating regular inspections for fuel seepage in the tip tanks. The regulation is applicable to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, thereby affecting all entities and individuals operating within the Australian aviation industry who own or operate affected aircraft. The directive requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1975 and subsequently mandates inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions to this directive, and it is enforced through the relevant subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish the requirements for maintaining airworthiness of aircraft, including directives for particular models. For instance, AD/CESSNA 310/37 pertains to the Cessna 310 series aeroplanes and mandates an inspection for tip tank fuel seepage (section 1). This directive applies to all models of the Cessna 310 series that are fitted with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap (section 2). The inspection must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1975 and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service thereafter (section 3). The Act imposes a clear obligation on operators and owners of the specified Cessna 310 models to ensure that these inspections are conducted as per the outlined schedule. This requirement is essential for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft, ensuring that any potential issues with fuel seepage are identified and rectified in a timely manner. Operators and owners must keep accurate records of these inspections to demonstrate compliance with the regulation. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance with AD/CESSNA 310/37 may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The potential penalties for non-compliance can be severe, as CASA has the authority to impose fines and take other regulatory actions. In cases of significant non-compliance, the consequences may also include grounding of the aircraft, which can disrupt operations and lead to further financial and logistical challenges for the operator or owner.