AD/CT4/1 - Fuel Contents Indication

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the legislative framework under which the Australian Government operates, were enacted to provide comprehensive regulation of civil aviation in Australia, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the aviation industry. A particular aspect of these regulations, as evidenced in Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses specific issues pertaining to aircraft airworthiness and operational safety. This includes the Airworthiness Directive AD/CT4/1 concerning the Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 Series Aeroplanes, which was introduced to address the problem of inaccurate fuel quantity indications in certain models of the CT/4 series aeroplanes. This directive mandates the recalibration and re-marking of the fuel contents indicator, and the installation of a placard to prevent the use of potentially unsafe fuel levels, thereby ensuring compliance with safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with the policy objective of enhancing flight safety by ensuring that the fuel quantity indicating system accurately reflects the usable fuel content. The directive became effective on 9 September 1999 and required compliance by all specified models of the CT/4 series aeroplanes by 31 December 1999, aiming to mitigate risks associated with fuel mismanagement.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandate the implementation of Airworthiness Directives for certain aircraft models, including the Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 series aeroplanes with specified serial numbers. These directives are applicable to model CT/4, CT/4A, and CT/4B aeroplanes with Serial Numbers 001 through 077 and 097 through 114 inclusive, ensuring that they meet specific safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive requires the re-calibration and re-marking of the fuel contents indicator, in compliance with the Pacific Aerospace Corporation Service Bulletin PACSB/CT/117 Revision 1 dated 7 December 1998. Furthermore, a placard must be installed to clearly inform operators that when the fuel indicator reads zero, the fuel remaining in the tank cannot be safely used in flight. This Airworthiness Directive applies nationally, and compliance must be achieved before the specified deadlines. The directive extends its application through subordinate instruments, such as service bulletins, to ensure the specified modifications are carried out correctly and uniformly across all applicable aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, Section 105, mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aviation operations. The relevant AD, AD/CT4/1, focuses on the Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 series aeroplanes, covering models CT/4, CT/4A, and CT/4B with serial numbers ranging from 001 through 077 and 097 through 114. The directive requires two main actions to be undertaken to ensure compliance with safety standards. Firstly, the fuel contents indicator must be recalibrated and re-marked in accordance with the instructions provided in Pacific Aerospace Corporation Service Bulletin PACSB/CT/117 Revision 1, dated 7 December 1998 (Section 1). Secondly, a placard must be installed as specified in the same service bulletin, with the wording: "WHEN FUEL INDICATOR READS ZERO, FUEL REMAINING IN TANK CANNOT BE SAFELY USED IN FLIGHT" (Section 2). These actions must be completed before 31 December 1999 to ensure the directive is adhered to. The obligations imposed by this AD are specific and require adherence to the prescribed procedures for recalibration and re-marking of the fuel contents indicator, as well as the installation of the specified placard. Owners and operators of the affected aircraft must ensure these modifications are made by the deadline to maintain compliance with safety regulations. This directive underscores the importance of precise fuel quantity readings to avoid unsafe fuel levels during flight. Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety concerns, as incorrect fuel quantity readings could lead to in-flight emergencies. The regulations do not explicitly outline the penalties for non-compliance in the provided text, but it can be inferred that non-compliance with CASA directives is likely to attract enforcement actions, potentially including grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The potential consequences underscore the critical nature of adhering to the specified modifications and timelines. Overall, the AD/CT4/1 aims to enhance flight safety by ensuring the accuracy of fuel quantity indications, thereby preventing situations where the fuel remaining in the tank cannot be safely used in flight. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft models and serial numbers, and failure to adhere to the outlined requirements could result in significant safety risks and regulatory repercussions.