Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to provide comprehensive regulatory coverage for the safety of civil aviation within Australia. These regulations were introduced to address the need for a standardised and rigorous framework governing the maintenance, operation, and certification of aircraft to ensure public safety and compliance with international aviation standards. The regulations were enacted by the Australian Parliament and aim to prevent unsafe conditions that may compromise the safety of air travel. One specific legislative instrument under these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Cessna 750 (Citation X) Series Aeroplanes, issued in 2004. This AD addresses an identified safety issue related to the installation of specific bulkhead web doublers to prevent potential jamming of the roll control system, ensuring continued airworthiness and compliance with safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 specifically targets Cessna 750 (Citation X) series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 0001 to 0102. The directive is designed to ensure these aircraft meet required safety standards by addressing an unsafe condition identified with the bulkhead web doublers. The directive mandates inspections, removal, and installation of specific parts, as well as adjustments to lightening holes to prevent jamming of the roll control system. Compliance with this Airworthiness Directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft models, and it must be implemented before 30 September 2004, unless already completed. This directive is applicable nationally, reflecting the Commonwealth's commitment to maintaining civil aviation safety standards. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 August 2004 and became effective on 2 September 2004, reinforcing the regulatory oversight and safety measures CASA enforces across the aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) applies to Cessna 750 (Citation X) Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers 0001 through 0102. The directive mandates a series of actions to address an identified unsafe condition related to the aircraft's bulkhead web. Firstly, the directive requires an inspection of the bulkhead web for the presence of a round bulkhead web doubler, specifically part number 6711093-38, as per the instructions in Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-53-19 dated 20 January 2000. If such a doubler is present, it must be removed before further flight. Secondly, the directive requires the installation of new bulkhead web doublers: a right bulkhead web doubler with part number 6791213-4 and a left bulkhead web doubler with part number 6791213-3, along with enlarging the lightening holes, again following the Accomplishment Instructions in Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-53-19. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Aircraft operators and maintainers must conduct the required inspection and modifications within the timeframe specified, which is before 30 September 2004, unless the modifications have already been completed. This involves ensuring that the aircraft meet the safety standards set out in the AD, which includes removing any existing round bulkhead web doubler if present and installing the specified replacements. These modifications are intended to prevent the jamming of the roll control system due to inadequate clearance between the control cable and the web, thereby maintaining the aircraft's airworthiness. Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious consequences. The AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with ADs generally can lead to severe civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. For civil aviation safety regulations, penalties can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment and substantial fines. Compliance with ADs is crucial to ensure the safety of air travel, and any breach of these regulations can lead to significant legal repercussions for the non-compliant party.