AD/CESSNA 340/18 - Passenger Seat Installation - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, form a critical part of the regulatory framework governing civil aviation in the country. These regulations, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the safety and airworthiness of aircraft, ensuring compliance with international standards and practices. One such regulation, AD/CESSNA 340/18, pertains to the inspection of passenger seat installations in Cessna 340 series aeroplanes, aiming to rectify identified safety issues by mandating specific inspections within a defined timeframe. This directive was introduced to address potential safety concerns associated with the passenger seating installations in certain Cessna 340 models, ensuring that these aircraft meet necessary safety standards to protect passengers and crew. The policy objective is to maintain high safety standards in civil aviation through rigorous oversight and timely compliance with airworthiness directives. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, are designed to ensure that all civil aviation operations in Australia adhere to stringent safety and operational standards. Part 39 - 105 specifically focuses on airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules that aircraft manufacturers and operators must comply with to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. The directive AD/CESSNA 340/18 exemplifies this commitment by addressing a particular safety concern related to passenger seat installations in Cessna 340 series aeroplanes. This legislation mandates that inspections of these seats be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1978, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of these aircraft. The overarching policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with aircraft operations by enforcing compliance with specific airworthiness directives.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically addresses airworthiness directives, including those concerning the Cessna 340 series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all model 340 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 340-0001 to 340A-0472. The directive mandates an inspection of the passenger seat installation for these aircraft to ensure compliance with safety standards. The geographic scope of this legislation is national, as it is a regulation under the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby applying uniformly across all states and territories. Compliance with the airworthiness directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1978, with the directive referencing the FAA AD 78-13-05 Amendment 39-3250 and Cessna Service Letter ME78-17. This regulatory framework ensures that the specified aircraft meet necessary safety standards, with no stated exclusions or exemptions in the provided text. The application of the directive can be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments, ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, with a focus on ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 340/18, concerns the passenger seat installation inspection for Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all model 340 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 340-0001 to 340A-0472 (section 9/78). The directive references the document Cessna SL No. ME78-17 and is aligned with FAA AD 78-13-05 Amendment 39-3250, indicating its alignment with international standards. The key requirement of this directive is to conduct an inspection of the passenger seat installations on the specified Cessna 340 series aircraft. Operators and owners of these aircraft must ensure that the inspection is carried out within 100 hours of time in service following 30 September 1978 (section 9/78). This inspection is mandatory to verify that the passenger seats are securely installed and meet the specified airworthiness standards. The obligations imposed by this directive include the necessity for operators and owners of the affected Cessna 340 series aircraft to comply with the inspection requirement within the stipulated timeframe. This involves scheduling and conducting thorough inspections of the passenger seat installations to identify any potential defects or non-compliance issues. Additionally, operators must maintain accurate records of the inspections performed, including the date, the person who conducted the inspection, and any findings or actions taken as a result. Failure to comply with the inspection requirements outlined in AD/CESSNA 340/18 may result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for potential penalties and enforcement actions against non-compliant operators. Such penalties may include fines and other enforcement measures, and in severe cases, the aircraft may be grounded until the required inspections are satisfactorily completed. The specific penalties and consequences for non-compliance are detailed in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which may include administrative penalties, criminal charges, or both, depending on the severity of the breach.