AD/CESSNA 340/6 - Pre-Certification Requirements - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted by the Australian Government to ensure safety and compliance within the civil aviation sector. This regulation was introduced to address gaps and ensure adherence to safety standards for aircraft operations, including the modification and maintenance of aircraft to meet specific safety directives. The enacting body was the Commonwealth of Australia, with the policy objective of enhancing airworthiness and safety through stringent compliance requirements. One such directive concerns the Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes, where modifications must be made to ensure safety, such as installing placards to prohibit smoking, marking oxygen system filling valves, and ensuring seats are locked during critical phases of flight. These measures are designed to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with Australian civil aviation standards. This legislative instrument mandates that all Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes comply with specific airworthiness directives before 31 March 1975, underscoring the importance of adhering to safety protocols. The directive includes modifications such as installing placards to inform passengers about smoking restrictions, marking oxygen system filling valves with maximum pressure and maintenance instructions, and ensuring the rear left-hand seat is locked during takeoff and landing. Additionally, it requires the installation of fuelling equipment bonding points and external earthing points, as well as modifying the power supply system to the turn and bank indicator to ensure immediate indication of power loss. These provisions collectively aim to maintain and enhance the safety and reliability of aircraft operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all models of Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation mandates that aircraft of this series must comply with specific modifications to ensure safety. These modifications include the installation of placards in the cabin to specify smoking prohibition periods, placards adjacent to the oxygen system filling valve to indicate maximum filling pressure and maintenance precautions, a prominent placard adjacent to the rear left-hand seat to ensure it is locked full forward during takeoff and landing, installation of fuelling equipment bonding points and external earthing points, and modification of the power supply system to the turn and bank indicator for immediate power loss indication. The regulation applies to all Cessna 340 Series Aeroplanes and requires compliance before 31 March 1975, ensuring these modifications are in place to meet safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The primary provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/CESSNA 340/6, require modifications to Cessna 340 series aeroplanes to ensure safety standards are met. Section 39-105 outlines the necessity of placards and bonding points installation, among other modifications, to be completed before 31 March 1975. These modifications include installing placards in the cabin specifying periods during which smoking is prohibited (Section 1), placing a placard adjacent to the oxygen system filling valve indicating the maximum filling pressure and the importance of cleanliness (Section 2), ensuring a prominent placard is installed adjacent to the rear left-hand seat instructing to lock the seat full forward during takeoff and landing (Section 3), and installing fuelling equipment bonding points at each fuel filling point and external earthing points for ground connections (Section 4). The obligations imposed by the Act are stringent and require compliance with the specified modifications to enhance safety. Operators of Cessna 340 series aeroplanes must ensure that all placards are correctly installed and visible to crew and passengers. This includes placards indicating smoking restrictions, oxygen system warnings, and seat locking instructions. Additionally, the installation of bonding points and earthing points is critical to prevent fuel-related hazards. These modifications are not merely suggestions but mandatory requirements to maintain airworthiness. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to severe consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the legislative instrument, it is understood that breaches of civil aviation safety directives can result in significant penalties. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of air operator certificates, and potential criminal charges depending on the severity of the breach. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations and take appropriate action against non-compliance.