Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITYSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, was enacted to address safety concerns related to the structural integrity of certain Cessna 400 Series aeroplanes. This legislation was introduced by the Australian Government to ensure that aeroplanes meet the required safety standards, particularly concerning the maintenance of bonded wings to prevent corrosion and related structural failures. The policy objective of this amendment is to enhance the safety of civil aviation by mandating regular inspections and repairs of specified components on Cessna 400 Series aeroplanes, ensuring that these aircraft remain airworthy and compliant with safety regulations. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), under the authority vested by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issued this Airworthiness Directive to enforce the requirement for inspecting and repairing corrosion, disbonds, and deficient sealing between the wing skins and spars or ribs in accordance with specified procedures. The directive aims to mitigate risks associated with moisture ingress that can significantly reduce the fatigue life of wing spars and affect the bonding of wing skins. By setting clear compliance parameters and inspection intervals, the amendment ensures that operators of these aircraft adhere to stringent safety standards, thereby protecting both the operators and the travelling public.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, addresses the certification and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia, including the requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. The particular Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 400/108 Amendment 1 pertains to all Cessna 402C, Cessna 404, Cessna 414A, and Cessna 421C aircraft, focusing on the bonded wing requirements. This directive mandates inspection and repair of corrosion, disbonds, and deficient sealing between the wing skins and spars or ribs, following the guidelines set in Cessna Service Bulletin MEB95-11 Revision 1. The directive is applicable to all relevant aircraft models and requires compliance with the specified inspection and repair intervals, with the possibility for CASA to approve alternative technical justifications for proposed repairs. The original compliance period for these inspections was set to be completed before 2 July 1997 or within 200 hours of time in service after 2 January 1997, whichever came first, with subsequent reinspections occurring at intervals defined in the Cessna Service Bulletin. This directive became effective on 8 October 1998 and was amended to align with the specified intervals in the referenced service bulletin.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, contain Airworthiness Directives (AD) that are crucial for ensuring the safety of aircraft in Australia. One such AD, AD/CESSNA 400/108 Amendment 1, applies to all Cessna 402C, Cessna 404, Cessna 414A, and Cessna 421C aircraft (Part 39 – 105(1)). This directive mandates the inspection and repair of bonded wings to address corrosion, disbonds, and deficient sealing between the wing skins and spars or ribs, in line with Cessna Service Bulletin MEB95-11 Revision 1. Importantly, while the directive recommends using Cessna's repair designs, it does not prevent the submission of alternative repair proposals supported by technical justification for approval by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel must comply with the requirements set out in this AD. Specifically, an inspection must be conducted before 2 July 1997 or 200 hours of time in service after 2 January 1997, whichever comes first. After the initial inspection, subsequent reinspections must be performed at the intervals specified in the Compliance section of Cessna Service Bulletin MEB95-11 Revision 1. This ongoing requirement ensures that the structural integrity of the aircraft is maintained over time, reducing the risk of in-flight failures due to wing-related issues. Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD can lead to serious consequences. The AD specifies that non-compliance may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could prevent it from operating until the required inspections and repairs are completed. The severity of the potential penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the mandated inspection and repair schedules. Additionally, CASA has the authority to enforce these regulations, which can include taking legal action against individuals or entities that fail to comply, potentially resulting in fines or other penalties as prescribed by the Civil Aviation Act 1988.