AD/CESSNA 340/17 - Auto Pilot System - Disabling - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate the safety standards within the civil aviation industry. The regulations encompass a wide array of safety directives aimed at ensuring the highest levels of safety for all aviation operations. Among these, Part 39 - 105 focuses on Airworthiness Directives, providing specific guidance for the maintenance and operational standards of aircraft. The particular legislative instrument F2006B08263 targets the Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes, addressing a problem related to the auto pilot system which could potentially compromise the safety of the aircraft if not properly managed. The policy objective is to mandate modifications to disable the autopilot system in certain models of the Cessna 340 series, ensuring that these aircraft do not pose a safety risk during flight operations. This directive requires compliance with specific steps to disable the autopilot system and mandates the installation of a placard to notify pilots of the inoperative status of the autopilot system until modifications are completed.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, apply to the specified model of Cessna 340A aeroplanes, specifically serial numbers 340A0001 to 340A0458, 340A0460 to 340A0466, 340A0468, and 340A0470 to 340A0483, including those with ARC Model 400B auto pilot installations. These regulations mandate the disabling of the autopilot system on non-modified aircraft by removing power from the auto pilot computer and actuator circuit breakers, and require a placard indicating the autopilot is inoperative to be visible to the pilot. Compliance with these directives must be achieved before further flight, with the final modification step allowing the autopilot to be returned to service. The regulations cover national airspace and apply to all operators and pilots of the specified aircraft. No exclusions or exemptions are explicitly mentioned within the directive, meaning all affected aircraft must adhere to these safety measures without exception. Subordinate instruments may further define or extend the requirements, but the primary regulation mandates the outlined actions to ensure aviation safety.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/CESSNA 340/17, require that for certain Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes, the autopilot system must be disabled and a placard must be installed to notify pilots of its inoperative status. Section 1 of the directive mandates that on aircraft not modified as per Cessna Service Letter No. AV78-6 dated 31 March 1978 or later revisions, the AUTO PILOT COMPUTER and ACTUATOR circuit breakers must be pulled and secured to disable the model 400B autopilot. Furthermore, Section 2 stipulates that a placard indicating "AUTO PILOT INOPERATIVE" must be installed in plain view of the pilot. Section 3 permits the return of the autopilot to service and the removal of the placard once the electrical autopilot actuator modification detailed in Cessna Service Letter No. AV78-6 has been implemented. These provisions impose several obligations on the operators and owners of the specified Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes. They must ensure that the autopilot system is disabled if the required modifications have not been carried out. This involves physically securing the circuit breakers as directed and installing the required placard. Additionally, operators must comply with these requirements before any further flight, with specific emphasis on ensuring compliance before using the autopilot system if the modifications have been completed. The directive clearly outlines the steps needed to achieve compliance, ensuring that safety measures are adhered to before the aircraft can be operated. Failure to comply with the directives could lead to serious safety concerns and potential legal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within this directive, under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance can result in enforcement actions, fines, and other civil or criminal penalties as stipulated by relevant aviation authorities. The potential consequences underscore the importance of adhering to these safety mandates to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.