AD/CESSNA 310/57 Amdt 1 - Aircraft Flight Manual, Flight into Icing Conditions

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Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes

 

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE


For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CESSNA 310/57 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

 

AD/CESSNA 310/57

Amdt 1


Aircraft Flight Manual, Flight into Icing Conditions


7/2000

 

Applicability: Models 310R, and T310R. Requirement:  Revise:

  1. the Limitations Section of the aircraft's Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) by incorporating the following:

 

"WARNING"

Severe icing may result from environmental conditions outside of those for which the aircraft is certificated.

 

Flight in freezing rain, freezing drizzle, or mixed icing conditions (super cooled liquid water and ice crystals) may result in:

 

  • ice build-up on protected surfaces and exceed the capability of the ice protection system, or

 

  • ice forming aft of the protected surfaces.

This ice may not be shed using the ice protection systems, and may seriously degrade the performance and controllability of the aircraft.

 

During flight, severe icing conditions that exceed those for which the aircraft is certificated shall be determined by the visual cues described below. If one or more of these visual cues exists, immediately request priority handling from Air Traffic Control to facilitate a route or an altitude change to exit the icing conditions. The cues are:

 

  •  unusually extensive ice accumulation on the airframe and windscreen in areas not normally observed to collect ice, and/or

 

  •  accumulation of ice on the upper surface of the wing aft of the protected area, and/or

 

  •  accumulation of ice on the engine nacelles and propeller spinners farther aft than normally observed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AL 5/2001


Since the auto-pilot, when installed and operating, may mask tactile cues that indicate adverse changes in handling characteristics, use of the auto-pilot is prohibited when any of the visual cues specified above exist, or when unusual lateral trim requirements or auto-pilot trim warnings are encountered while the aircraft is in icing conditions.

 

All wing icing inspection lights must be operative prior to flight into known or forecast icing conditions at night. This direction supersedes any relief provided  by any Minimum Equipment List.

 

2.    the Normal Procedures Section of the approved AFM by incorporating the following:

 

THE FOLLOWING WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY BE CONDUCIVE TO SEVERE IN-FLIGHT ICING:

  • Visible rain at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius ambient air temperature;
  • Droplets that splash or splatter on impact at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius ambient air temperature.

 

PROCEDURES FOR EXITING A SEVERE ICING

ENVIRONMENT: (These procedures are applicable to all flight phases from take-off to landing.)

 

Monitor the ambient air temperature.

 

While severe icing may form at temperatures as cold as -18 degrees Celsius, increased vigilance is warranted at temperatures around freezing when visible moisture is present.

 

 

If the visual cues which are specified in the Limitations Section of the AFM for identifying severe icing conditions are observed, accomplish the following:

 

  • Immediately request priority handling from Air Traffic Control to facilitate a route or an altitude change to exit the severe icing conditions in order to avoid extended exposure to flight conditions more severe than those for which the aircraft has been certificated.

 

  • Avoid abrupt and excessive manoeuvring that may exacerbate control difficulties.

 

  • Do not engage the autopilot.
  • If the autopilot had previously been engaged, hold the control wheel firmly and disengage the autopilot.

 

  • If an unusual roll response or un-commanded roll control movement is observed, reduce the angle-of-attack.

 

  • Do not extend flaps when holding in icing conditions. Operation with flaps extended can result in a reduced wing angle-of-attack, with the possibility of ice forming on the upper surface further aft on the wing than normal, possibly aft of the protected area.

 

  • If the flaps are extended, do not retract them until the airframe is clear of ice.
  • Report these weather conditions to Air Traffic Control.

Notes 1: Certificate of Registration holders should initiate action to ensure notification of this change is conveyed to any person who may operate their aircraft as pilot in command.

 

Notes 2: FAA AD 98-04-28 refers.

 

Certification for accomplishment of this Directive may be carried out:

 

  1. after a copy of this Directive is included in the appropriate sections of the aircraft's AFM; and

 

b.    may be carried out at a minimum, by the holder of a private pilot's licence.

 

 

Compliance: Within 30 days after the Effective date of this Amendment.

 

This Amendment becomes effective on 13 July 2000.

 

Background:  This Directive is issued to minimise the potential hazards associated with operating the aircraft in severe icing conditions by providing more clearly defined procedures and limitations associated with such conditions.

 

Amendment 1 is issued to correct a word processing error in the initial issue.

 

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 March 2000.


 

Bernard Malcolm Hole

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 31 May 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 June 2000.

Overview

The Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive, issued in 2000, was enacted to address safety concerns related to operating Cessna 310 aircraft in severe icing conditions. This legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aims to mitigate potential hazards by clearly defining procedures and limitations for such conditions. The directive mandates specific revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual, including new warnings and procedures for pilots to follow when encountering severe icing conditions, and requires compliance within 30 days of the directive's effective date. This legislative action underscores the importance of ensuring airworthiness and safety in potentially hazardous flying conditions.

Scope and Application

The Cessna 310 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to Models 310R and T310R. This legislative instrument mandates the revision of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include specific warnings and procedures related to flight into severe icing conditions. The directive is intended to address the unsafe conditions that can arise from operating the aircraft in environments outside its certification limits. The requirement necessitates that the AFM's Limitations and Normal Procedures sections be updated to provide clear guidance on identifying and responding to severe icing conditions, including visual cues for recognising such conditions and detailed procedures for exiting them. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 30 days of its effective date, which was 13 July 2000. This Airworthiness Directive, issued by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aims to minimise hazards associated with severe icing by ensuring that pilots are well-informed and equipped to handle such situations safely.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CESSNA 310/57, as amended, outlines specific requirements and procedures for the operation of Cessna 310R and T310R aircraft under severe icing conditions (section 2). The directive mandates the revision of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include updated warnings and procedures for managing flight into icing conditions. Specifically, section 3(a) requires the incorporation of a warning about the potential for severe icing outside of the aircraft's certified conditions, detailing the risks of ice build-up on the airframe and the need to request priority handling from Air Traffic Control to exit such conditions. Additionally, section 3(b) mandates the inclusion of specific weather conditions conducive to severe in-flight icing and outlines procedures for exiting severe icing environments, including avoiding abrupt manoeuvring and the use of the autopilot. Under this AD, the primary obligations for the operators of Cessna 310R and T310R aircraft include ensuring that the AFM is updated with the specified warnings and procedures (section 2). Operators must make these updates within 30 days from the effective date of the amendment, which is 13 July 2000 (section 4). Furthermore, operators are required to notify any person who may operate their aircraft as pilot in command of these changes (section 2, Note 1). Certification of compliance can be performed by a holder of a private pilot's licence, ensuring that the AFM contains the updated information (section 5). Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in civil or criminal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. These penalties may include fines and other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive aims to ensure the safety of operations in severe icing conditions by mandating specific procedural changes and updates to the AFM.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.