AD/CESSNA 650/6 Amdt 1 - MLG Side Brace Assembly

Overview

The Airworthiness Directive F2006B08449, enacted in 2002, was introduced to address an unsafe condition in the Cessna 650 (Citation III) Series Aeroplanes. This legislation, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aims to ensure the airworthiness of these specific aircraft by mandating corrective actions. The primary concern addressed by this directive is the potential for the side brace assemblies to unlock, leading to a failure of the undercarriage, which could result in a gear-up landing. The policy objective is to mitigate this risk through a one-time inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the side brace assemblies to ensure they match the correct part numbers as specified in the relevant Cessna service bulletins.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 650/6 applies to specific Cessna Model 650 aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from -0001 through -0241 and -7001 through -7112 inclusive. This AD is issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive mandates a one-time inspection of the left and right side brace mechanism assemblies to verify their part numbers, as detailed in Cessna Service Bulletin SB650-32-47, including its supplemental data. If the correct part numbers are confirmed, no further action is required. However, if incorrect part numbers are identified, the defective assemblies must be replaced in accordance with the same service bulletin. Compliance with this directive requires that the inspection be completed within six months from 31 October 2002, following the inspection, and before further flight. This AD ensures that the identified unsafe condition related to the potential unlocking of certain side brace assemblies, which could lead to undercarriage failure and a gear-up landing, is addressed effectively.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to specific serial numbers of Cessna Model 650 aeroplanes, namely serial numbers ranging from -0001 through -0241 inclusive and -7001 through -7112 inclusive. The AD mandates a one-time inspection of the left and right side brace mechanism assemblies to confirm their part numbers as per Cessna Service Bulletin SB650-32-47, including any supplemental data. If the correct part numbers are confirmed, no further action is required. However, if any assemblies do not match the correct part numbers, they must be replaced as per the same service bulletin. This action is to be undertaken within six months from 31 October 2002 unless it has already been completed, following the inspection of the side brace assemblies, and prior to further flight. The directive was amended to correct a typographical error, and this amendment became effective on 26 December 2002. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. First, the owner or operator of the affected Cessna 650 aeroplanes must conduct a thorough inspection of the side brace mechanism assemblies to verify their part numbers. This inspection must be carried out in accordance with the procedures outlined in Cessna Service Bulletin SB650-32-47 and any related supplemental data. If the correct part numbers are confirmed, the aeroplane can continue to be operated without further modification. However, if any incorrect part numbers are identified, the owner or operator must replace the faulty assemblies to ensure the aeroplane’s continued airworthiness. These actions must be completed within the specified timeframe to ensure compliance with the AD. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD can result in significant consequences. The AD does not explicitly state penalties or offences, but non-compliance could lead to the aeroplane being grounded or deemed unairworthy. This could result in legal action under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR), which may include fines or other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Additionally, failure to adhere to the AD could compromise the safety of the aircraft, potentially leading to accidents or incidents that could have severe legal, financial, and human consequences.