AD/CESSNA 500/14 - Exhaust Nozzle Cone - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, provide comprehensive guidelines for ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations addresses the issuance of airworthiness directives, which are critical in maintaining safety standards across the aviation industry. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 500/14, pertains to the replacement of exhaust nozzle cones for specific models of Cessna 500 (Citation) Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address identified safety concerns associated with the exhaust nozzle cone, aiming to enhance the reliability and safety of these aircraft models. The policy objective behind such directives is to ensure that all civil aircraft meet the required safety standards, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the general public from potential aviation hazards. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), an agency of the Australian Government responsible for regulating civil aviation safety. The directive AD/CESSNA 500/14 specifically targets a subset of Cessna 500 models with serial numbers ranging from 500-0001 to 500-0314 and engine serial numbers listed in Pratt & Whitney of Canada Service Bulletin No. 7095. Compliance with this directive is mandated to address a documented issue related to the exhaust nozzle cone, as outlined in the requirement document Cessna Citation Service Bulletin 78-6, Part I. This targeted approach ensures that the safety measures are applied precisely where needed, maintaining high safety standards across the aviation sector.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Cessna 500 (Citation) series aeroplanes, targeting a very specific subset of aircraft identified by their serial numbers. This particular legislative instrument, AD/CESSNA 500/14, mandates the replacement of exhaust nozzle cones for Model 500 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 500-0001 to 500-0314 and corresponding engine serial numbers as listed in Pratt & Whitney of Canada Service Bulletin No. 7095. The regulation is enforced through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to all such aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia. The legislation is intended to ensure compliance with safety directives as detailed in the referenced requirement document, Cessna Citation SB 78-6, Part I. This regulatory measure extends its jurisdictional reach across the entirety of the Commonwealth, ensuring that the safety directive is uniformly applied nationwide. While the Act itself does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, the specificity of the serial numbers indicates that only the affected aircraft are subject to this directive. The application and enforcement of this regulation may also be extended or refined through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, includes the Airworthiness Directives (ADs) which mandate certain safety requirements for aircraft. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 500/14, pertains to the replacement of the exhaust nozzle cone for the Cessna 500 (Citation) Series aeroplanes (Section 39-105). This directive applies to Model 500 with serial numbers ranging from 500-0001 to 500-0314, which have engine serial numbers as listed in Pratt & Whitney of Canada Service Bulletin No. 7095. Compliance with this directive is outlined in Cessna Citation Service Bulletin 78-6, Part I. The AD imposes specific obligations on aircraft owners and operators to ensure that the exhaust nozzle cone is replaced according to the details provided in the referenced compliance document. This involves verifying that the affected aircraft meet the serial number criteria and have the specified engine serial numbers. The replacement of the exhaust nozzle cone must be carried out in accordance with the detailed procedures and specifications outlined in the Cessna Citation Service Bulletin 78-6, Part I. Failure to adhere to these compliance requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. Breaches of the Airworthiness Directives can lead to significant legal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD can result in civil penalties. Specifically, for contravening an AD, the maximum penalty can be up to 500 penalty units for an individual, or 2,500 penalty units for a body corporate. Additionally, if the non-compliance results in an unsafe condition that leads to an accident or incident, the penalties can be significantly higher and may also include criminal charges against the responsible persons, potentially leading to imprisonment. It is imperative for aircraft owners and operators to ensure strict adherence to these directives to avoid such serious repercussions.