AD/CESSNA 550/6 Amdt 2 - Tailcone Skin and Vertical Fin Spar Interference

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) were enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia, addressing various gaps and ensuring compliance with international standards. This legislative instrument, in particular, amends Airworthiness Directives for the Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series Aeroplanes. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Australian Parliament, issued this directive to address a specific safety concern regarding possible interference between the vertical fin forward spar and the upper tailcone skin on certain models of the Cessna 550 aircraft. The policy objective is to mitigate safety risks by ensuring that all applicable aircraft are inspected and, if necessary, modified to prevent such interference, thus maintaining the integrity and safety of the aircraft in operation. This directive applies to all models 550 with specific unit numbers, requiring compliance with specified service bulletins unless inspections have already been conducted and no interference was found. The directive aims to ensure that any potential safety hazards are identified and rectified, thereby safeguarding the aviation industry and protecting the public. The legislative instrument extends the applicability of previous directives, reinforcing the commitment to maintaining high safety standards within the civil aviation sector.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, governs the maintenance and safety compliance of aircraft within Australian airspace. The regulations apply to all models of the Cessna 550 (Citation II) series aeroplanes with unit numbers ranging from 0002 to 0219, 0221 to 0225, and 0227 to 0410. The directive mandates compliance with specific maintenance actions detailed in the Cessna Service Bulletins 550-53-6 Rev. 2 and 550-55-2 Rev. 2 to address potential interference between the vertical fin forward spar and the upper tailcone skin. This requirement must be fulfilled unless the aircraft were already inspected and no interference was detected prior to 30 June 1986. The directive is jurisdictional under the Commonwealth of Australia, applying to all relevant aircraft operating within the country, with compliance monitored by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation, specifically AD/CESSNA 550/6 Amendment 2, focus on ensuring the airworthiness of the Cessna 550 (Citation II) Series aeroplanes by addressing a specific structural issue. Section 10/85 specifies the applicability of the directive to all Models 550 with unit numbers ranging from 0002 to 0219, 0221 to 0225, and 0227 to 0410. It mandates that actions be taken in accordance with the relevant Cessna Service Bulletins, namely Cessna S.B. 550-53-6 Rev. 2 and Cessna S.B. 550-55-2 Rev. 2, unless the necessary measures have already been completed before 30 June 1986. It also notes that no further action is required if the aircraft were previously inspected in accordance with Cessna S.L. 550-53-2 and no interference was detected. The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties or entities it governs are primarily centred on ensuring the structural integrity of the specified aircraft. Operators of the affected Cessna 550 models must adhere to the prescribed Service Bulletins to rectify any potential interference between the vertical fin forward spar and the upper tailcone skin. This involves conducting the required inspections and implementing any necessary repairs or modifications as outlined in the Service Bulletins. Operators must ensure that these actions are completed in a timely manner, as stipulated by the directive, to maintain compliance with airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the provisions of this directive can result in serious consequences. The legislation does not explicitly detail the offences, penalties, or specific civil or criminal consequences for non-compliance; however, the overarching Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under which this directive operates, generally mandate strict adherence to airworthiness directives. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potentially criminal charges for operators found in violation of the regulations. These actions are taken to ensure that all aircraft meet the required safety standards and to protect the public from the risks associated with non-compliant aircraft operations.