Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in Australia. One specific regulation within this framework is found in Part 39 - 105, which outlines the schedule of airworthiness directives. This particular regulation, AD/CESSNA650/2, pertains to the Cessna 650 (Citation III) Series aeroplanes and mandates an inspection of the main fuel manifold to mitigate the risk of breakage and potential fire hazards associated with the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). The directive references Cessna Service Letter SL650-49-17 and Sunstrand Power Systems Service Bulletin SB-T-62-T-49-74, which highlight the reported instances of cracking and breakage of the main fuel manifold. The policy objective is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft by requiring timely inspections and compliance within specified intervals of APU operation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the application of airworthiness directives for civil aviation safety within Australia. The regulation in focus here is AD/CESSNA650/2, which concerns Cessna 650 (Citation III) Series aeroplanes and mandates the inspection of the main fuel manifold of the airborne auxiliary power unit (APU). This directive applies to all operators of Cessna 650 aircraft, ensuring that they comply with the specified inspection requirements to mitigate the risk of fuel manifold breakage or leakage that could lead to potential fire hazards. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it applies to all civil aviation operations within Australia, governed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive is effective from 27 December 1990 and requires compliance within 10 days, followed by regular inspections at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of APU operation, as stipulated in Cessna Service Letter SL650-49-17 referencing Sunstrand Power Systems Service Bulletin SB-T-62-T-49-74. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in this directive, and its application is direct and mandatory for the specified aircraft series.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, establish important guidelines for the airworthiness of aircraft, including the Cessna 650 (Citation III) Series aeroplanes. According to section 39-105 of the Act, these regulations mandate specific directives for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft (39-105). One such directive, AD/CESSNA650/2, focuses on the inspection of the main fuel manifold of the Airborne Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). This requirement is critical to preventing potential hazards such as breakage and leakage of the main fuel manifold, which could lead to fires (AD/CESSNA650/2). Operators of Cessna 650 (Citation III) Series aircraft must comply with Cessna Service Letter SL650-49-17, which references Sunstrand Power Systems Service Bulletin SB-T-62-T-49-74 (AD/CESSNA650/2). The directive requires inspections to be carried out within 10 days of the regulation coming into effect and then at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of APU operation. This regular inspection schedule is crucial to ensure that any potential issues with the main fuel manifold are identified and rectified promptly (AD/CESSNA650/2). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can have serious consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the inspection requirements risk non-compliance with civil aviation safety standards, which can lead to penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Such penalties may include fines, enforcement notices, and in severe cases, grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections are completed. Additionally, failure to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft can result in criminal charges against the operators, potentially leading to imprisonment for individuals found guilty of neglecting safety directives (Civil Aviation Act 1988).