AD/CESSNA 400/44 - Tip Tank Fuel Seepage - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate various aspects of civil aviation, including the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. Part 39, specifically Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses critical safety concerns through directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such directive, AD/CESSNA 400/44, pertains to the inspection of Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes for tip tank fuel seepage, particularly in models fitted with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap. This directive was introduced to address the problem of fuel seepage, which can compromise the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft. The policy objective is to ensure that such inspections are performed within 100 hours of time in service after a specified date and at regular intervals thereafter, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft in accordance with CASA standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Cessna 400 Series aeroplanes fitted with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap. This legislation mandates a specific inspection protocol to address the issue of fuel seepage in the tip tanks. The directive applies to all operators and owners of the affected aircraft models, ensuring compliance with the stipulated inspection intervals to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, encompassing all operations within Australia. Compliance with these airworthiness directives is mandatory and requires adherence to the inspection intervals specified, which must be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1975 and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours thereafter. The regulations do not include any stated exclusions or exemptions, and the application is extended through the subordinate instrument, which references either the Cessna SL ME73-4 document or the FAA AD 75-05-08 directive.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, pertain to Airworthiness Directives for specific aircraft models, including the Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes. Section 105 specifically addresses tip tank fuel seepage inspections for these aircraft. This directive, identified as AD/CESSNA 400/44, mandates that all Cessna 400 Series models fitted with strobe lights in the wing tip fuel tank nose cap must undergo inspections for fuel seepage (Section 105). The inspection requirement applies to all affected models and must be performed within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1975, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (Section 105). The obligations and requirements imposed by this directive are clear and specific. Operators of the affected Cessna 400 Series aeroplanes must ensure that the fuel tank seepage inspections are conducted in accordance with the specified documents, either Cessna SL ME73-4 or FAA AD 75-05-08 (Section 105). These inspections are critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft, particularly in relation to safety concerns associated with fuel seepage in the wing tip fuel tanks. The regulations require that these inspections be carried out meticulously to prevent any potential issues that could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives and the associated inspection requirements can result in significant legal and safety consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can be considered a breach of operational standards, potentially leading to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The severity of the penalties for breaches of these regulations can vary, but they may include fines, enforcement notices, and in severe cases, grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The exact penalties are not specified in the provided excerpt but are typically outlined in further sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations or related legislative instruments.