COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 500 (Citation) Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 500/15 Wing Main Spar - Inspection
and Modification
Applicability: All models 500 and 501 with unit numbers 0001 to 0520.
4/81
Requirement: 1. Inspect the wing spar upper and lower cap in the area of wing section 37 in accordance with Cessna SL No. 57-2 Rev. 3 dated 15 May 1980. FAA AD 79-12-06 also refers.
2. Inspect and modify in accordance with :
(a) Cessna SB No. 57-10 Rev. 1 dated 28 March 1980 for aircraft unit Nos. 0001 to 0349.
(b) Cessna SB No. 57-11 rev. 1 dated 28 March 1980 for aircraft unit Nos. 0350 to 0520.
3. Visually inspect for further cracks the wing main spar upper and lower caps of aircraft modified in accordance with SB No. 57-10 Rev. 1 or SB No. 57-11 Rev. 1, in the area of the W.S. 37 modification.
Compliance: For Para. 1 - As detailed in the requirement document.
For Para. 2 - In accordance with the requirement documents when any crack monitored under the provisions of Para. 1 reaches or exceeds 0.30 inches in length.
Note: The modification may be carried out at any time (i.e. not necessarily at crack detection) and thus exempt the aircraft from the inspections under Para.1.
For Para. 3 - At or prior to exceeding 1,200 hours after modification and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 1,200 hours or 1,200 landings whichever occurs first.
Background: The results of full-scale fatigue testing and the inspection of several high time Citation aircraft have revealed small fatigue cracks in the main spar upper and lower caps at W.S. 37. In service cracks were found in 8 instances in the upper cap and in 1 instance in the lower cap.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39 of these regulations, particularly the Airworthiness Directives, provides specific requirements to address identified safety issues. One such directive is AD/CESSNA 500/15, which was introduced to address fatigue cracks discovered in the wing main spar upper and lower caps of Cessna 500 (Citation) Series aeroplanes. This directive is applicable to all models 500 and 501 with unit numbers from 0001 to 0520. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance the structural integrity of the affected aircraft by mandating inspections and necessary modifications, thereby mitigating the risk of in-flight structural failure. Compliance with these requirements is crucial to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's regulations, specifically Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, apply to all Cessna 500 and 501 series aeroplanes with unit numbers ranging from 0001 to 0520. These regulations mandate inspections and modifications to the wing main spar to ensure continued airworthiness. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, impacting operators and aircraft within Australia. The regulations require a thorough inspection of the wing spar upper and lower cap in the area of wing section 37, following the guidelines set out in Cessna Service Letter No. 57-2 Rev. 3 dated 15 May 1980, with reference to FAA AD 79-12-06. Additionally, inspections and modifications must be conducted according to specific service bulletins for different aircraft unit number ranges. The regulations also require further visual inspections for cracks in specified areas of the wing main spar after certain modifications have been made and after set intervals or flight hours. Compliance with these directives is essential to maintain the safety standards mandated by Australian civil aviation regulations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outline the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for certain aircraft, such as the Cessna 500 (Citation) series aeroplanes. These regulations detail the necessary actions to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. Section 39.105 of the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives specifies the requirements for inspecting and modifying the wing main spar of Cessna 500 (Citation) series aeroplanes. For aircraft with unit numbers ranging from 0001 to 0520, the regulations mandate a thorough inspection of the wing spar upper and lower caps in the area of wing section 37. This inspection must be conducted in accordance with the instructions outlined in Cessna Service Letter No. 57-2 Rev. 3 dated 15 May 1980, and it also references FAA AD 79-12-06 for additional guidance.
These regulations impose specific obligations on the parties involved, primarily aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. Operators of the affected Cessna 500 series aeroplanes are required to comply with the inspection and modification procedures outlined in the regulations. This includes conducting detailed inspections of the wing spar as per the specified documents and modifying the wing spar if necessary. Maintenance personnel must ensure that these inspections and modifications are performed correctly and thoroughly to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state specific offences or penalties, but non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to serious safety risks, which can result in the grounding of the aircraft. Furthermore, CASA has the authority to impose fines, issue warnings, or take other enforcement actions against operators who fail to comply with airworthiness directives. The specific penalties for non-compliance are determined by CASA on a case-by-case basis, but they can be substantial, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring aircraft safety.