AD/CESSNA 337/17 - Bench Seat Locking Placard - Installation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in the country. One particular legislative instrument, F2006B08236, pertains to the Cessna 337 Series Aeroplanes and was introduced to address a specific safety concern. This legislative instrument, specifically AD/CESSNA 337/17, mandates the installation of a bench seat locking placard on all model T337G aeroplanes. The requirement is to attach a clearly visible placard adjacent to the bench seat back locking knob on the seat forward edge, with specific guidelines on the lettering and background colour to ensure visibility and readability. The placard is intended to remind ground crew to verify that the seat locking studs are properly located in the floor fittings before loading, thus enhancing safety by preventing potential issues related to seat locking during flight. Compliance with this directive is mandatory before the issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, governs the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) issuance of Airworthiness Directives, which apply to various aircraft models, including the Cessna 337 Series aeroplanes. The AD/CESSNA 337/17 directive mandates the installation of a bench seat locking placard on all model T337G aircraft. This directive requires the attachment of a specific placard adjacent to the bench seat back locking knob on the seat forward edge, with detailed specifications on the text size and contrast to ensure readability and compliance. The directive applies to all model T337G aircraft and must be adhered to before the issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness, ensuring that the seat locking studs are positively located in the floor fittings as a safety measure. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying across Australia under the Commonwealth's jurisdiction. While the primary regulation sets the standard, further specifications or amendments may be made through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this legislation are found under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Cessna 337 Series Aeroplanes. Section 39 - 105 AD/CESSNA 337/17 mandates the installation of a bench seat locking placard for model T337G aircraft. According to this directive, the placard must be affixed adjacent to the bench seat back locking knob on the seat's forward edge. The placard itself must display specific instructions and warnings in white lettering on a black background, with the instruction "BENCH SEAT LOCKING" prominently displayed and underlined, while other text must be a minimum of 3 mm (1/8") high. The obligations imposed by this Act require aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to adhere to the specified requirements for the installation of the bench seat locking placard. This includes ensuring that the placard is correctly positioned and that all lettering adheres to the stipulated dimensions and colour specifications. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved before CASA issues a Certificate of Airworthiness, underscoring the importance of adherence to safety standards. Failure to comply with these directives can result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to serious legal and financial repercussions. In the context of this directive, failure to install the required placard or improper installation could potentially lead to aircraft safety issues, resulting in regulatory action against the operator. Such actions could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement measures deemed necessary by CASA to ensure compliance and maintain air safety standards. The exact penalties can vary based on the severity and impact of the non-compliance, but they are intended to enforce strict adherence to safety regulations.