AD/CESSNA 500/21 - Nitrogen Bottle Installation - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, establish various standards and directives to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. Part 39 of these regulations addresses specific airworthiness directives for different aircraft types, including the Cessna 500 (Citation) Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 500/21, was introduced to address a specific safety concern related to the nitrogen bottle installation on certain Cessna 500 and 501 models. This directive was issued to ensure that an adequate clearance exists at the nitrogen bottle operating lever to prevent potential issues that might hinder activation, thereby maintaining the aircraft's safety and compliance with civil aviation standards. The requirement for compliance with this directive came into effect before further flight after 31 July 1984, as referenced in the Cessna Citation Service Letter SL32-36.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, as set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, governs the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 AD/CESSNA 500/21 pertains to the inspection of nitrogen bottle installations on Cessna 500 (Citation) Series aeroplanes, particularly those with unit numbers 0001 to 0676 equipped with nitrogen bottles manufactured by H.T.L. Part Number 9912103-3. This directive applies to all models 500 and 501 within the specified range and mandates a compliance inspection to ensure adequate clearance at the nitrogen bottle operating lever to prevent potential activation issues. Compliance with this directive is required before further flight after 31 July 1984. The directive's geographic reach is national, impacting all operators within the Commonwealth of Australia who possess the specified aircraft models and configurations. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive, and its application is directly governed by the specified conditions and requirements.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CIV) under PART 39 - 105, specifically AD/CESSNA 500/21, mandate that all Cessna 500 and 501 series aircraft with unit numbers 0001 to 0676, equipped with specific nitrogen bottles, must undergo an inspection of their nitrogen bottle installation. This directive is encapsulated in section 39 - 105 (7/84) and requires compliance with Cessna Citation Service Letter SL32-36. The inspection must be completed before any further flight after 31 July 1984. The Act imposes specific obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to ensure that the inspection is performed adequately. This involves checking the nitrogen bottle operating lever for sufficient clearance, ensuring that it can be activated without obstruction. The operators must ensure that all maintenance personnel are aware of these requirements and that the inspection is carried out meticulously. Failure to adhere to these directives could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thereby preventing any flights until the issue is rectified. The legislation outlines potential consequences for non-compliance. Specifically, if the required inspection is not conducted as per the stipulated requirements, the aircraft may be deemed non-compliant, potentially leading to grounding. Additionally, any breach of these regulations could result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Civil penalties may include fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges could be brought against responsible individuals or entities. The exact penalties are not specified in the document, but they can be substantial and include both financial and operational repercussions.