AD/CESSNA 336/9 - Flap Actuator - Inspection and Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address various aspects of civil aviation safety, including the establishment of airworthiness directives to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. One such directive is AD/CESSNA 336/9, which pertains specifically to Cessna 336 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues related to the flap actuator of certain Cessna 336 models. The directive mandates a two-part requirement: the inspection and maintenance of the actuator jack screw, as well as a modification of the aircraft in line with specific Cessna Service Letters. The overarching policy objective is to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and mitigate any potential risks associated with the identified issues, thereby enhancing the safety of air travel. The directive stipulates that all Cessna 336 models with serial numbers ranging from 336-0001 to 336-0195 are subject to these requirements. For Part 1 of the directive, the inspection and maintenance of the actuator jack screw must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time after 28 February 1973, until the required modifications are implemented. Part 2 of the directive requires the modification of the aircraft to be completed before 1 June 1973. The directive is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to ensure compliance and uphold the highest safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia, with this particular legislative instrument focusing on the Cessna 336 series aeroplanes. The scope of this Act applies directly to all models of Cessna 336 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 336-0001 to 336-0195. It mandates two principal requirements: the inspection and cleaning of the flap actuator jack screw and its relubrication, as per Cessna Service Letter SE60-16, and the modification of the aircraft in accordance with Cessna Service Letter ME72-19. These requirements are imperative to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft, with Part 1 requiring compliance at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service after 28 February 1973, and Part 2 necessitating compliance before 1 June 1973. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) oversees the enforcement of these directives, which apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a standardised approach to aviation safety nationwide. While the regulations themselves are explicit, their application may be further detailed or refined through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contains a directive for Cessna 336 Series Aeroplanes, designated as AD/CESSNA 336/9. This directive is aimed at ensuring the safe operation of these aircraft through specific maintenance actions related to the flap actuator. Section 2/73 outlines the applicability and requirements for all models with serial numbers (S/Nos.) from 336-0001 to 336-0195. The directive consists of two main parts. Part 1 requires an inspection of the actuator jack screw, followed by cleaning and relubrication, in accordance with Cessna Service Letter SE60-16. This inspection and maintenance task is mandated to be performed at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service after 28 February 1973, until the aircraft is modified as per the directive. Part 2 mandates a modification to the aircraft in line with Cessna Service Letter ME72-19, and this must be completed before 1 June 1973. Compliance with these requirements is critical to ensure the aircraft's continued airworthiness. The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and specific. Operators and owners of Cessna 336 Series Aeroplanes within the specified serial number range must adhere to the outlined inspection and maintenance procedures. They must ensure that the actuator jack screw is inspected, cleaned, and relubricated at the prescribed intervals, as detailed in the directive. Additionally, operators must ensure that any necessary modifications to the aircraft are completed by the specified deadline to maintain compliance with safety standards. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/CESSNA 336/9 can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties within the directive itself; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally attracts civil and criminal penalties under broader aviation safety legislation. These can include fines, enforcement actions, and potential grounding of the aircraft. Operators and owners are, therefore, strongly encouraged to adhere strictly to the directive to avoid any legal repercussions and to ensure the safety and airworthiness of their aircraft.