AD/CESSNA 550/10 Amdt 2 - MLG Torque Link Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (the Regulations) are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to provide comprehensive regulations for the safety of civil aviation within Australia. The Regulations cover a wide array of aviation safety aspects, including the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft. Part 39, specifically, addresses the certification and airworthiness of aircraft, and includes directives and amendments that ensure aircraft meet required safety standards. The 2006 Amendment introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing the inspection and maintenance of the torque link assembly in the main landing gear. This was introduced to address potential safety issues related to the cotter pins securing the torque links, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft if not properly maintained. The policy objective is to ensure that all aircraft maintain the required safety standards to prevent accidents or incidents due to mechanical failure.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series Aeroplanes, applies to all model S550 series aircraft that have not been modified in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SB S550-32-5. This regulation mandates that the cotter pins securing the left and right main landing gear torque link connections must be inspected and verified. If any of these cotter pins are broken, missing, or show signs of being cut or sheared by the nut, the nut must be retorqued and a new cotter pin installed following the procedures outlined in Cessna MM 32-11-01 Pages 403, 404, and 405. The inspection must be completed by an appropriately licensed person and must occur prior to the first flight of the day. In cases where the Pilot in Command performs the inspection, the AD reference must be documented in a certification on the Maintenance Release. This directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, and compliance is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The scope of this legislation extends to ensuring the airworthiness of all specified Cessna 550 series aircraft operating within Australia. The requirement for inspection and verification of the main landing gear torque link connections is mandatory, and any failure to comply with the stipulated procedures could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. The regulation does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but the applicability is clearly defined by the aircraft model and modification status. Any further clarifications or amendments to the application of this directive may be provided through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series Aeroplanes (section 105). One key provision is AD/CESSNA 550/10 Amendment 2, which pertains to the Main Landing Gear (MLG) Torque Link Assembly (section 105(1)). This directive applies to all model S550 series aircraft not modified in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SB S550-32-5 (section 105(2)). The primary requirement of this AD is that the cotter pins securing the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) main landing gear torque link connections must be inspected and verified (section 105(3)). If any cotter pin is found to be broken, missing, or exhibits evidence of being cut or sheared by the nut, the corresponding nut must be retorqued and a new cotter pin must be installed in accordance with Cessna MM 32-11-01 Pages 403, 404, and 405, prior to any further flight (section 105(4)). This inspection and any necessary rectification must occur before the first flight of the day (section 105(5)). The inspection may be conducted by the Pilot in Command, with the AD reference duly noted on a certification made on the Maintenance Release (section 105(6)). However, any rectification required must be performed by an appropriately licensed person (section 105(7)). This amendment serves to introduce terminating action for the inspection requirements. The obligations imposed by this AD are stringent, mandating that all affected aircraft must be inspected by the Pilot in Command before each flight. The AD requires that any deficiencies, such as broken or missing cotter pins, must be addressed by an appropriately licensed person before the aircraft can be considered airworthy for flight. This includes ensuring that the torque links are retorqued and new cotter pins are installed as per the specified Cessna maintenance manual pages (section 105(4)). The AD also requires the Pilot in Command to document the inspection in the Maintenance Release, ensuring traceability and compliance with the directive (section 105(6)). Breach of these provisions can have significant consequences. Failure to comply with the AD requirements can lead to serious safety risks, as the integrity of the main landing gear torque link connections is critical for the safe operation of the aircraft. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties within the text provided, but non-compliance with ADs generally can result in enforcement actions by CASA. This may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges against the operator or person in charge of the aircraft, depending on the severity of the breach and any resulting harm or risk of harm. The exact penalties are outlined in other sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations, but they can include substantial fines and imprisonment for serious breaches.