Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation activities and ensure the safety of air travel within Australia. The regulations form a comprehensive framework that governs various aspects of civil aviation, including the airworthiness of aircraft. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which is designed to address specific safety concerns identified by the manufacturer or the aviation authority. The Cessna 500 (Citation) Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 500/19 targets a critical safety issue related to the elevator and rudder trim system of these aircraft models. This directive was introduced to rectify instances where elevator and rudder trim tab stop blocks were incorrectly installed and torqued, as well as instances where trim tab actuator chain guards were incorrectly installed. The policy objective is to enhance flight safety by ensuring that these components are correctly assembled and maintained, thus preventing potential malfunctions that could compromise the aircraft's control and stability.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, apply to all Cessna 500 and 501 series aeroplanes with unit numbers ranging from 001 through 0667. This legislation mandates the inspection of the elevator and rudder trim systems in these aircraft to ensure that the trim tab stop blocks are correctly installed and torqued, and that the trim tab actuator chain guards are also correctly installed. The regulation requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 30th November 1983 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance, whichever is later. This ensures that any identified issues are rectified in a timely manner to maintain the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft. The regulation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and extends its reach to all operators and owners of the specified aircraft models. The scope of this directive is limited to the specific models and unit numbers mentioned, and it does not extend to other aircraft types or models. Compliance with this Airworthiness Directive is mandatory for all persons or entities operating the affected Cessna 500 and 501 series aeroplanes within Australia. The directive is enforceable under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and is supported by subordinate instruments that further detail the inspection procedures and compliance requirements. Any deviations or exemptions from this directive must be approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Cessna 500 (Citation) Series Aeroplanes, identified as AD/CESSNA 500/19. This directive mandates the inspection of the elevator and rudder trim system for all Models 500 and 501 within a specified range of unit numbers. According to the directive, compliance is required either within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1983, or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after that date, whichever occurs later (Section 105). The directive references a specific document, Cessna Service Letter No. SL 27-6.11/83, which provides further detail on the required inspection. The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. They are required to ensure that the elevator and rudder trim tab stop blocks are correctly installed and torqued, and that the trim tab actuator chain guards are properly installed (Section 105). This inspection is critical for maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring safe operational standards are met. Operators must also maintain records of the inspections and any corrective actions taken in compliance with the AD. Failure to comply with the AD/CESSNA 500/19 can result in significant consequences. The regulations set forth in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 may be invoked, leading to potential civil or criminal penalties. For civil aviation safety violations, penalties can include fines and enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In severe cases, non-compliance can also result in the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed, thereby impacting the operational readiness and safety of the aircraft. The specific penalties and enforcement actions are determined based on the severity and frequency of the non-compliance.