COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 400/84 Fuel Filter - Inspection and Modification 3/82
Applicability: Model 402 with S/Nos. 402C0001 to 402C0505. Model 404 with S/Nos. 404-0203 to 404-0847. Model 414 with S/Nos. 414A0001 to 414A0667. Model 421 with S/Nos. 421C0401 to 421C1087.
Document: Cessna SIL No. ME81-36.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 March 1982.
Background: A number of fuel filter assemblies have been found with loose bypass valve ball seats.
This may result in contaminants bypassing the filter and blocking the fuel metering unit inlet screen.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate civil aviation safety, including the issuance of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 400/84, was introduced to address the specific safety concern of loose bypass valve ball seats in the fuel filter assemblies of certain Cessna 400 series aeroplanes. This issue, if unaddressed, could lead to contaminants bypassing the filter and subsequently blocking the fuel metering unit inlet screen, potentially causing serious operational hazards. The directive aims to mitigate these risks by requiring inspections and necessary modifications to the fuel filter systems of affected aircraft models within 100 hours of their time in service after the directive's issuance date of 31 March 1982. The policy objective is to enhance the overall safety and reliability of these aircraft by ensuring the integrity of the fuel filtration system.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the Airworthiness Directives for various aircraft, including the Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes. This particular legislative instrument mandates compliance with AD/CESSNA 400/84, which focuses on the inspection and modification of fuel filters for certain models and serial numbers within the Cessna 400 Series, namely Model 402 (S/Nos. 402C0001 to 402C0505), Model 404 (S/Nos. 404-0203 to 404-0847), Model 414 (S/Nos. 414A0001 to 414A0667), and Model 421 (S/Nos. 421C0401 to 421C1087). The directive applies to any aircraft within the specified serial number range and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1982. The regulatory scope is thus limited to these specific aircraft models and serial numbers, and the directive is aimed at addressing the issue of loose bypass valve ball seats in the fuel filter assemblies, which could lead to contaminants blocking the fuel metering unit inlet screen. This requirement is underpinned by Cessna SIL No. ME81-36.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (C1998R00836) under Part 39 - 105, specify the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives. Specifically, AD/CESSNA 400/84 addresses the inspection and modification of the fuel filter for certain Cessna 400 series aeroplanes, including models 402, 404, 414, and 421 with specific serial number ranges (section 3/82). The directive applies to aeroplanes that have accumulated 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1982. This requirement is intended to address issues with fuel filter assemblies that may have loose bypass valve ball seats, which could allow contaminants to bypass the filter and potentially block the fuel metering unit inlet screen.
Compliance with AD/CESSNA 400/84 imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of affected Cessna aeroplanes. These obligations include conducting an inspection of the fuel filter assemblies within the specified timeframe to ensure that the bypass valve ball seats are not loose. If any issues are identified during the inspection, the directive mandates that appropriate modifications be made to correct the problem, ensuring that the fuel filter assemblies are functioning as intended. Operators and owners must also maintain records of compliance with this directive, including documentation of inspections and any modifications performed.
Failure to comply with AD/CESSNA 400/84 can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations include provisions for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Civil penalties can include fines and other financial penalties, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment for operators and owners who deliberately or recklessly fail to comply with the directive. The exact penalties can vary depending on the severity of the non-compliance and any aggravating circumstances. In extreme cases, repeated non-compliance or non-compliance that results in a safety incident could lead to more severe penalties, including higher fines and longer periods of imprisonment.