COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 340/16 Goodyear Fuel Cells - Inspection 6/78
Applicability: All models 340 fitted with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells. Document: Cessna SL No. ME78-7.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 30 June 1978 and annually thereafter as detailed in Cessna SL No. ME78-7.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations within the country. One of the legislative instruments under this regulation, AD/CESSNA 340/16, specifically addresses the safety of Cessna 340 series aeroplanes equipped with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells. This directive was introduced to mitigate potential risks associated with these fuel cells, thereby enhancing the overall safety standards in the aviation industry. The policy objective behind this instrument is to ensure that all applicable aircraft models are regularly inspected and maintained according to the specified guidelines, thus preventing any safety hazards that could arise from the use of these fuel cells.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandates the application of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aircraft within Australia. This legislation targets all Cessna 340 series aeroplanes equipped with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells, necessitating compliance with the directives detailed in AD/CESSNA 340/16 concerning the inspection of these fuel cells. The regulations apply to the operation and maintenance of these aircraft by mandating that inspections be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1978 and annually thereafter, as outlined in Cessna Service Letter No. ME78-7. The scope of the Act is national, impacting all operators and maintenance entities within the Commonwealth of Australia, and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. No specific exclusions or exemptions are provided in the text, and the directive extends through subordinate instruments to ensure consistent application and compliance across the aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/CESSNA 340/16 concerning the inspection of Goodyear fuel cells in Cessna 340 series aeroplanes. Section 39.105 details the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft, particularly focusing on the fuel cells installed by Goodyear. According to Section 39.105, all Cessna 340 models equipped with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells must comply with this directive (Section 39.105(1)). The compliance timeline begins within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1978, followed by an annual inspection as outlined in Cessna Service Letter (SL) ME78-7 (Section 39.105(2)).
The obligations imposed by AD/CESSNA 340/16 are quite specific. Operators of Cessna 340 aeroplanes must ensure that the Goodyear fuel cells are inspected according to the schedule mentioned, and any identified issues must be rectified to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (Section 39.105(3)). This involves adhering to the detailed inspection procedures provided in the Cessna SL No. ME78-7, which outlines the steps and criteria for acceptable inspection results. Operators must also maintain records of all inspections and repairs, ensuring that these records are readily available for review by CASA inspectors (Section 39.105(4)).
Failure to comply with AD/CESSNA 340/16 can result in severe consequences. Under Section 39.105, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence. The penalties for such offences can be significant, including fines and potential imprisonment. Specifically, for corporations, the maximum penalty can be up to $210,000, and for individuals, the penalty can be up to $42,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both (Section 39.105(5)). Additionally, CASA can take action to suspend or revoke the airworthiness certificate of the aircraft if it is found that the required inspections have not been conducted or if the fuel cells are not maintained in accordance with the directive (Section 39.105(6)). Such actions can lead to grounded aircraft, further financial penalties, and reputational damage for the operators involved.