COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 337 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 337/12 Landing Gear Hydraulic Lines
in Engine Compartment
6/72
Applicability: All models.
Requirement: Replace the landing gear aluminium alloy hydraulic lines on the engine side of the firewall in the engine compartment of the front engine, with approved fire resistant lines or hose assemblies in compliance with ANO 101.22, paragraph 6.25.1 or relocate the lines behind the firewall.
Note: For the purposes of this Directive the nose wheel well is not considered to be part of the engine compartment.
Compliance: Within 200 hours time in service after 30 June 1972.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include provisions for Airworthiness Directives aimed at ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. Specifically, AD/CESSNA 337/12 addresses a critical safety concern related to the landing gear hydraulic lines of Cessna 337 Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of hydraulic line failure, which could lead to substantial safety hazards such as loss of control or catastrophic engine damage. The policy objective behind this regulation is to ensure that these aircraft remain airworthy by mandating the replacement or relocation of vulnerable hydraulic lines to fire-resistant materials or behind the firewall, thereby enhancing the overall safety of flight operations within Australia's airspace.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives and governs the airworthiness requirements for all aircraft operating within Australia. In this context, AD/CESSNA 337/12 applies to all models of the Cessna 337 Series aeroplanes. The regulation mandates that the landing gear aluminium alloy hydraulic lines on the engine side of the firewall in the engine compartment of the front engine must either be replaced with approved fire-resistant lines or hose assemblies that comply with ANO 101.22, paragraph 6.25.1, or alternatively, relocated behind the firewall. It is important to note that for the purposes of this directive, the nose wheel well is not considered part of the engine compartment. Compliance with this airworthiness directive is required within 200 hours of time in service after 30 June 1972. This regulation extends to all operators of Cessna 337 Series aeroplanes within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to safety standards mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Cessna 337 Series Aeroplanes, outlined in AD/CESSNA 337/12. This directive applies to all models of the aircraft (AD/CESSNA 337/12). The primary requirement under this directive is to replace the landing gear aluminium alloy hydraulic lines on the engine side of the firewall in the engine compartment of the front engine with approved fire-resistant lines or hose assemblies. This replacement must comply with ANO 101.22, paragraph 6.25.1, or alternatively, the lines must be relocated behind the firewall (AD/CESSNA 337/12). It is important to note that for the purposes of this directive, the nose wheel well is not considered part of the engine compartment.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are straightforward. Owners and operators of Cessna 337 Series Aeroplanes are required to ensure that the specified hydraulic lines are replaced or relocated within 200 hours of time in service after 30 June 1972. This compliance ensures that the aircraft maintains its airworthiness standards and reduces the risk of hydraulic line failure in the event of a fire in the engine compartment. The directive is clear and leaves little room for interpretation regarding the need for immediate action to address this safety concern.
The Act also outlines the consequences for non-compliance with the AD. While the specific penalties for breaching this directive are not detailed in the provided text, it is known that failure to comply with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. These penalties can include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance results in an accident or incident. Given the potential safety implications, it is crucial for operators to adhere strictly to the requirements set out in AD/CESSNA 337/12.