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 550/22 Outflow Safety Valve 5/96
Applicability: All Cessna 550 series aircraft.
Requirement: Unless previously carried out, action in accordance with Allied Signal Service Bulletin 103576-21-4056.
Note: FAA AD 95-25-10 Amdt 39-9456 refers.
Compliance: Within 200 hours time in service from 25 April 1996 or prior to 31 July 1996, whichever occurs first.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that cracking has been found in two valve poppets of a particular batch. This cracking may cause failure of the outflow safety valve which could result in rapid decompression of the aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, introduced specific Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operations in Australia. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 550/22, pertains to the outflow safety valve of the Cessna 550 (Citation II) series aeroplanes. This directive was enacted to address a critical safety issue identified by the manufacturer, Allied Signal, regarding cracking in the valve poppets of a specific batch, which could potentially lead to the failure of the outflow safety valve and consequent rapid decompression of the aircraft. The directive requires compliance within 200 hours of time in service from 25 April 1996 or before 31 July 1996, whichever comes first, and references FAA AD 95-25-10 Amdt 39-9456 for further guidance. The objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of in-flight emergencies by ensuring the integrity of the outflow safety valve.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australia. This particular directive, AD/CESSNA 550/22, is applicable to all Cessna 550 series aircraft registered and operated within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation demands that aircraft of this type must comply with the requirements set out by Allied Signal Service Bulletin 103576-21-4056, with compliance required within 200 hours of time in service from the date of the directive, 25 April 1996, or before 31 July 1996, whichever comes first. The directive references FAA AD 95-25-10 Amendment 39-9456, indicating an alignment with international safety standards. The directive addresses a critical safety issue where cracking has been discovered in the valve poppets of a specific batch, which could potentially lead to the failure of the outflow safety valve and subsequent rapid decompression of the aircraft. This requirement is mandatory and must be adhered to by all relevant operators and owners of Cessna 550 series aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/CESSNA 550/22, detail the requirements and compliance timelines for the Cessna 550 series aircraft. Section (1) mandates that all Cessna 550 series aircraft must comply with the actions outlined in Allied Signal Service Bulletin 103576-21-4056. This requirement is crucial to address the issue of cracking in valve poppets identified in a specific batch of outflow safety valves. The compliance date is set within 200 hours of time in service from 25 April 1996 or before 31 July 1996, whichever comes first.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the owners or operators of Cessna 550 series aircraft. They must ensure that the necessary actions as per the Allied Signal Service Bulletin are implemented within the stipulated timeframe. This involves inspecting the outflow safety valve and replacing or repairing it as necessary to prevent any potential failure that could lead to rapid decompression of the aircraft. The compliance must be documented and verified to meet the regulatory standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/CESSNA 550/22 can lead to significant consequences. Section (3) of the regulations outlines that non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence. The potential penalties for such breaches include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The exact penalties are not specified in the text but generally, such regulatory violations can lead to substantial financial penalties and may result in the grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved.
In summary, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly AD/CESSNA 550/22, necessitate specific actions on the outflow safety valve of Cessna 550 series aircraft to mitigate the risk of rapid decompression. Owners and operators are required to adhere to the compliance timelines and documented procedures. Breaches of these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines and possible criminal charges, thereby emphasising the importance of timely and accurate compliance.