AD/CESSNA 400/106 - Passenger Seat Installations

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, provide a comprehensive framework to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. A specific focus of these regulations is on ensuring that aircraft modifications and installations meet stringent safety standards. The legislative instrument F2006B08293 addresses the problem of unauthorised modifications to Cessna 404 aircraft, particularly the addition of passenger seats beyond the originally approved capacity. This regulation was introduced to close the gap where some aircraft were modified with extra seats without obtaining the necessary approvals, potentially compromising safety. The objective is to mandate compliance with aviation safety standards, ensuring that all modifications are properly authorised and recorded. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enacting body responsible for overseeing the safety directives outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The policy objective of F2006B08293 is to enforce compliance with the authority’s standards for passenger seat installations on Cessna 404 aircraft. This includes verifying that any modifications to seat installations have been approved by CASA or an appropriately authorised person. Failure to comply with these directives can result in the removal of unauthorised seats or obtaining necessary approvals, followed by an update to the aircraft’s Flight Manual to reflect the correct seating capacity.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies to all Cessna Model 404 aircraft that have been modified to fit more than the original nine passenger seats. The legislation mandates that aircraft records must be examined to verify whether any modifications to install additional passenger seats have received approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority or an appropriately authorised person. If it is discovered that such modifications lack the requisite approval, the directive requires that the additional seats be removed from the aircraft or that approval be obtained from a Civil Aviation Regulations authorised person. Furthermore, an amendment to the Flight Manual must be prepared to reflect the maximum number of occupants, which should match the number of approved seats, in accordance with Civil Aviation Order 20.16.3 subsection 3.1. Compliance with this directive is required before 30 June 1996, aiming to address instances where Cessna 404 aircraft have been modified with additional seats without obtaining specific approval. This directive ensures that any inappropriate seat installations are rectified and that any appropriate modifications are properly documented and approved.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39, specifically AD/CESSNA 400/106, address the installation and approval of passenger seats in Cessna 404 aircraft. Section 39.105 of the Regulations mandates that for Cessna Model 404 aircraft fitted with more than the original 9 passenger seats, the aircraft records must be examined to determine if the modification to install the additional seats has been approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) or an appropriately authorised person (section 39.105(1)). If the installation is not approved, the regulation requires either the removal of the seats from the aircraft or the obtaining of approval from a Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) authorised person (section 39.105(2)). Furthermore, the Flight Manual must be amended to include a maximum number of occupants that corresponds to the number of approved seats, in compliance with CAO 20.16.3 sub-section 3.1 (section 39.105(3)). The obligations imposed by these provisions on the parties governed by the Act include ensuring that any modifications to the passenger seating arrangements on Cessna 404 aircraft are either pre-approved by CASA or an authorised person, and that such approvals are properly documented and reflected in the aircraft records. Operators of these aircraft are required to verify the status of any seat installations that exceed the original 9 seats and take corrective action if necessary. This involves either removing unapproved seats or obtaining the necessary approvals and updating the Flight Manual to reflect the correct seating capacity. The compliance date for these requirements was set before 30 June 1996, meaning that operators needed to ensure adherence to these regulations by that date. Failure to comply with the directives set out in AD/CESSNA 400/106 may result in serious consequences. If an operator does not remove unapproved seats or fails to obtain the necessary approvals for additional seats, they may be in breach of the Civil Aviation Regulations. Such breaches could potentially lead to enforcement actions by CASA, which might include fines, legal penalties, or other regulatory sanctions. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text but generally could include substantial financial penalties and possible grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Ensuring adherence to these regulations is crucial for maintaining airworthiness and safety standards in aviation operations.