COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 550/20 Drag Chute 8/90
Applicability: Model 550 series equipped with a drag chute system.
Requirement: Incorporate the following information on the drag chute canister lid; with the letters being at least 13 mm in height and bordered in red: “DRAG CHUTE CANISTER LID - DO NOT SEAL EDGE.”
Note: This information may be incorporated in the form of a placard, or alternatively by painted letters.
Compliance: Prior to the issue of the next Maintenance Release after 31 August 1990.
Background: This AD is raised in response to an incident in which drag chute deployment was inhibited due to the application of sealant around the periphery of the drag chute canister lid.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Legislative instrument F2006B08426, addresses an identified safety concern with the Cessna 550 (Citation II) series aeroplanes. Specifically, the regulation targets the drag chute system, which was found to have deployment issues when sealant was applied around the periphery of the drag chute canister lid. The objective of this legislative instrument is to prevent such incidents by requiring clear and unambiguous labelling on the drag chute canister lid. The policy objective, as stated in the regulation, is to ensure the safe deployment of the drag chute by prohibiting the sealing of the lid’s edge. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, introduced this directive to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that maintenance personnel are clearly informed of the need to avoid sealing the edge of the drag chute canister lid. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved before the next maintenance release following 31 August 1990.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directives (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to the operators and owners of Cessna 550 (Citation II) series aeroplanes equipped with a drag chute system. This legislation targets a particular aircraft model and mandates specific modifications to enhance safety, focusing on the drag chute canister lid. The directive requires that a clear and conspicuous warning label, "DRAG CHUTE CANISTER LID - DO NOT SEAL EDGE," be affixed to the lid of the drag chute canister, with the letters at least 13 mm in height and bordered in red. This can be done either through a placard or painted letters. The requirement must be fulfilled before the next Maintenance Release following 31 August 1990. This directive is geographically applicable across Australia and is enforced under the Commonwealth of Australia, with no exclusions or exemptions specified within the text. The regulation's scope is limited to the specified model and particular safety issue, with no broader jurisdictional or industry-wide application noted in the text. The application of this AD can potentially be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, include a number of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) designed to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. One such AD, AD/CESSNA 550/20, pertains to the Cessna 550 (Citation II) series aeroplanes and focuses on the drag chute system (section 1). The directive mandates that any Model 550 series aircraft equipped with a drag chute system must have specific information visibly displayed on the drag chute canister lid. This information must read “DRAG CHUTE CANISTER LID - DO NOT SEAL EDGE,” with the letters being at least 13 mm in height and bordered in red (section 2). This requirement can be fulfilled either by attaching a placard or by painting the letters directly onto the lid.
Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, the AD imposes clear obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the specified warning is clearly and permanently marked on the drag chute canister lid. This is to prevent any future incidents where the deployment of the drag chute might be hindered, as occurred in the incident that prompted this AD. Compliance with this directive is required prior to the issue of the next Maintenance Release after 31 August 1990 (section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD/CESSNA 550/20 could result in significant safety risks, potentially leading to severe consequences during an emergency where the drag chute is needed. Although the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in this directive, the broader regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do provide for enforcement actions. These can include fines and other sanctions for non-compliance with airworthiness directives, reflecting the serious nature of ensuring aircraft safety.