COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 340/30
Amdt 1
Placards and Cabin Fittings 9/94 DM
Applicability: Model 340 up to Serial number 0400.
Requirement: 1. Install placards, modify exit door safety chain and install partition door latch as detailed in Rex Aviation Drawing RA-A-1284 (available from Pacific Aviation) or another scheme approved by the Authority.
2. Install a placard on the outside lower half of the exit door indicating the location of the external handle.
3. Provide index marks indicating the open and locked position of the upper exit door half external release handle.
4. Install stops to the cabin seat rails to establish the rear-most position of the left and right second row seats and the forward-most position of the left and right third row seats.
Compliance: At the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 13 July 1994, or prior to 30 September 1994, whichever is later.
Background: Initially this Directive was to ensure compliance with Australian emergency escape provisions (AD/GENERAL/4) as applied to C414 aircraft. A recent Major Defect Report and subsequent investigation revealed that the exits on models subsequent and similar to the C.414 may also not be able to be opened from the outside following an accident.
Amendment 1 is issued to introduce the reference drawing that is specific to the model 340 aircraft. This drawing was incorporated on all the aircraft that were imported through Rex Aviation.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) addressing safety concerns with Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure compliance with emergency escape provisions and to rectify potential issues identified with the exit doors of these aircraft. The AD, AD/CESSNA 340/30 Amendment 1, mandates the installation of placards, modifications to the exit door safety chain, and the installation of partition door latches as outlined in Rex Aviation Drawing RA-A-1284 or an approved alternative. The directive aims to resolve issues highlighted by a Major Defect Report and subsequent investigation, which found that certain exit doors might not be accessible from the outside following an accident. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved by the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 13 July 1994, or before 30 September 1994, whichever is later.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses airworthiness directives concerning various aircraft types, including the Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive applies to all Cessna 340 models up to and including serial number 0400, mandating compliance with detailed modifications and installations to enhance safety features. The directive requires the installation of placards, modification of the exit door safety chain, and the installation of a partition door latch, with specific reference to Rex Aviation Drawing RA-A-1284 or an alternative approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive also necessitates the placement of placards on the exit door to indicate the location of the external handle, along with index marks for the open and locked positions of the external release handle. Additionally, it includes the installation of stops on cabin seat rails to define the seating positions. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, requiring adherence by the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue following 13 July 1994, or prior to 30 September 1994, whichever is later. This regulation applies nationally across Australia, overseen by the Commonwealth, ensuring uniformity in safety standards across all states and territories.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 – 105, specifically in relation to Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes, introduces an Airworthiness Directive (AD) numbered AD/CESSNA 340/30 Amendment 1. This directive applies to Model 340 aircraft up to Serial number 0400 (Section 1). It mandates the installation of placards, modifications to the exit door safety chain, and installation of a partition door latch according to Rex Aviation Drawing RA-A-1284 or an alternative scheme approved by the Authority (Section 2). Additionally, it requires the installation of a placard on the outside lower half of the exit door to indicate the location of the external handle, the provision of index marks for the open and locked positions of the upper exit door half external release handle, and the installation of stops to the cabin seat rails to establish specific seat positions (Section 3).
The obligations under this directive are quite specific. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that the placards and modifications are installed as per the approved drawing or scheme. This includes the installation of the required placards and the necessary modifications to the exit door safety chain and partition door latch. Moreover, operators must provide index marks indicating the positions of the upper exit door half external release handle and ensure that the cabin seat rails have the appropriate stops to maintain the specified seat positions (Section 4). Compliance with these requirements must be achieved at the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 13 July 1994, or prior to 30 September 1994, whichever is later (Section 5).
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive may result in various consequences. While the regulations do not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance could lead to safety issues that might result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This could include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Furthermore, in cases where non-compliance leads to accidents or safety incidents, the penalties could be more severe, potentially involving criminal charges and higher fines (Section 6).