COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 340/33 Exhaust System Components - Inspection 1/99 TX
Applicability: Model 340A aeroplanes, serial numbers 215 through 1817 that have had an exhaust system WYE tube changed since 01 May 1998.
Requirements: 1. Establish the part number of the exhaust system WYE tube fitted to the aircraft by search of the aircraft records or by physical examination of the component.
2. Remove and replace exhaust system WYE tubes P/N 9910299-25 or P/N 9910299- 26 with exhaust system WYE tubes P/N 9910299-8 (for P/N 9910299-25) or P/N 9910299-9 (for P/N 9910299-26) or any other WYE tube that is approved by the aircraft manufacturer.
Note: US FAA Priority Letter 98-24-14 dated 13 November 1998 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before further flight after receipt of this Airworthiness Directive.
2. Before further flight if defective components are identified.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 November 1998.
Background: The FAA has received reports of five instances where the engine exhaust components in the WYE tube installed on certain Cessna aircraft were manufactured without welds. These non-welded areas lead to leaks in the exhaust system on the turbocharged engine installations on these aeroplanes. The heat from the leaks in the exhaust system have caused aluminium fuel lines located immediately behind the firewall to burst. This condition has come about due to a quality control problem at a sub contractor. Cessna has returned all existing inventory to the sub contractor, however it is known that approximately 25 WYE tubes have been distributed to the field since May 1998. This Directive issues instructions to identify and remove from service the defective components. This defect is considered to be an urgent safety of flight issue and hence the inspection must be completed before further flight.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to address safety issues related to the Cessna 340 series aeroplanes. Enacted to rectify a significant safety concern, this directive was introduced to ensure the safety of flight operations by addressing defects in the exhaust system components of certain Cessna 340A aeroplanes. The AD was issued in response to reports from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about non-welded areas in the engine exhaust components, which led to exhaust system leaks and subsequent bursting of aluminium fuel lines due to heat exposure. This problem was traced back to a quality control issue at a subcontractor. The directive mandates that affected aircraft must be inspected and any defective exhaust system WYE tubes must be replaced before further flight to mitigate the urgent safety risk.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to the Cessna 340 series aeroplanes, focusing on model 340A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 215 to 1817 that have had an exhaust system WYE tube replaced since 01 May 1998. The directive mandates a thorough inspection of the exhaust system components to ensure compliance with safety standards, as non-compliance has been linked to significant safety risks such as exhaust leaks and subsequent fuel line failures. This legislation ensures that the specified aircraft must have their exhaust system WYE tubes identified and replaced with approved components before any further flights, with compliance required before the receipt of the directive and again if defective components are discovered. The directive's jurisdiction spans the entire Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing rigorous safety measures to mitigate potential hazards in civil aviation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, including AD/CESSNA 340/33. This directive (section 1/99 TX) pertains to the inspection of exhaust system components on certain Cessna 340 series aeroplanes. It applies to Model 340A aeroplanes, serial numbers 215 through 1817, that have had an exhaust system WYE tube changed since 1 May 1998. The directive requires operators to establish the part number of the exhaust system WYE tube currently fitted to the aircraft either through a search of the aircraft records or by physically examining the component. If the aircraft has exhaust system WYE tubes P/N 9910299-25 or P/N 9910299-26, these must be removed and replaced with P/N 9910299-8 or P/N 9910299-9 respectively, or any other approved WYE tube.
Compliance with AD/CESSNA 340/33 involves two main obligations. Firstly, operators must ensure that the required inspection and replacement of exhaust system components are completed before any further flight of the affected aircraft post receipt of this Airworthiness Directive. Secondly, if any defective components are identified during the inspection, further flight must be prohibited until the defective components are removed and replaced. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 20 November 1998, underscoring the urgency of addressing this safety concern.
Operators and owners of the affected Cessna 340 series aeroplanes are legally obligated to comply with the directives outlined in AD/CESSNA 340/33. This includes ensuring that the aircraft meets the specified requirements for the exhaust system WYE tubes before conducting any further flights. Failure to comply with these directives could result in serious safety risks, including potential engine failure or fuel line damage due to leaks in the exhaust system.
Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/CESSNA 340/33 can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators who do not adhere to Airworthiness Directives can face penalties. The specific consequences for non-compliance can include fines, enforcement actions, and potentially grounding the aircraft until the issues are resolved. The severity of these consequences reflects the importance of the directive in maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.