COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 400/48 Main Landing Gear Down Lock Pin
and Set Screw - Inspection
8/76
Applicability: Model 401 with S/N 401-0001 to 401B0221. Model 402 with S/N 402-0001 to 402B0630, 0632 to 0919, 0921, 0922, 0924 to 0929. Model 411 with S/N 411-0001 to
411A0300. Model 414 with S/N 414-0001 to 414-0653. Model 421 with S/N 421-
0001 to 421B0889, 0891 to 0939, 0942 to 0957, 0959, 0964.
Document: Cessna SL ME76-4.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1976.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia and enacted by the Parliament, are designed to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. One specific area these regulations address is the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, as evidenced by the Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These directives, such as AD/CESSNA 400/48, focus on critical components of certain aircraft models to prevent safety incidents. The policy objective is to maintain high safety standards by mandating regular inspections and maintenance checks on specific parts, such as the main landing gear down lock pin and set screw in Cessna 400 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to particular serial numbers of models 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421, requiring compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1976 to mitigate the risk of mechanical failure.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the inspection of the main landing gear down lock pin and set screw for certain models of Cessna 400 series aeroplanes. This requirement applies to specific serial number ranges of Model 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421 aeroplanes. The inspection must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1976, and compliance is to be evidenced by the Cessna Service Letter ME76-4. This regulation is applicable to the Commonwealth of Australia, affecting operators and maintainers of the specified Cessna aeroplanes within its jurisdiction. The directive ensures the maintenance of airworthiness standards, which are critical for the safety of these aircraft. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the document, and the regulation applies uniformly to the specified serial numbers of the mentioned Cessna models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Cessna 400 series aeroplanes concerning the main landing gear down lock pin and set screw. This directive is detailed in AD/CESSNA 400/48 (section 8/76). The directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the Cessna 400 series, such as the 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421 models, with particular serial number ranges specified. The directive mandates that inspections of the main landing gear down lock pin and set screw be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1976, as detailed in the document Cessna SL ME76-4.
Compliance with AD/CESSNA 400/48 (section 8/76) imposes certain obligations on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft models. These obligations include ensuring that the specified inspections are performed by qualified personnel in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Cessna SL ME76-4 document. The inspections must be conducted thoroughly to verify the integrity and proper function of the main landing gear down lock pin and set screw, which are critical components for the safe operation of the aircraft. Operators and owners must maintain accurate records of the inspections and any necessary repairs or replacements carried out.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/CESSNA 400/48 (section 8/76) can result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is considered a breach of safety regulations. This can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, enforcement notices, or even the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, with potential maximum penalties for breaches of these regulations being substantial. Ensuring adherence to the directive is thus crucial for maintaining the safety and legality of operations involving the specified Cessna 400 series aeroplanes.