AD/FA-200/18 - Fuel System - Placard Installation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, addresses the safety and operational standards of civil aircraft within Australia. Specifically, this legislation encompasses a schedule of airworthiness directives designed to ensure the safe operation of various aircraft models. One such directive, AD/FA-200/18, pertains to the Fuji FA-200 Series Aeroplanes, requiring the installation of a placard in the instrument panel to warn pilots against running either fuel tank dry in flight and to check for vent misalignment or faults based on fuel flow imbalances. This directive applies to all FA-200 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers 1 to 100 that have not been modified according to Fuji SB No. FAS-032. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 July 1976. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, the overarching policy objective of these regulations is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting both the flying public and aviation personnel.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and governs the operational safety standards for aircraft within Australian airspace. One such directive, AD/FA-200/18, applies to the Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 100, provided they have not been modified in accordance with Fuji Service Bulletin No. FAS-032. This directive mandates the installation of a specific placard on the instrument panel adjacent to the fuel quantity gauges to ensure pilots are warned against allowing either fuel tank to run dry in flight and to check the vents for any misalignment or faults if an imbalance in flow from the left and right tanks is detected. The directive must be complied with within 100 hours of time in service following its issuance on 30 July 1976, thereby ensuring that affected aircraft maintain the requisite safety standards for operation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically AD/FA-200/18, outlines the requirement for installing a specific placard on the instrument panel of Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers between 1 and 100, which have not been modified in accordance with Fuji Service Bulletin No. FAS-032. This placard is intended to warn pilots about the importance of maintaining adequate fuel levels in both fuel tanks and checking the vents for any misalignment or faults when there is an imbalance in flow from the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) tanks. The requirement necessitates the installation of this placard adjacent to the fuel quantity gauges within 100 hours of time in service following the date of 30 July 1976. The obligations under this directive are clear and straightforward. Aircraft operators must ensure that the specified placard is installed in the prescribed location on the instrument panel of the affected Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes. This installation must be completed within the stipulated timeframe, i.e., 100 hours after the specified date. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in safety risks related to fuel management during flight, which could lead to serious operational hazards. Breaching the requirements set out in AD/FA-200/18 can result in significant consequences. While the regulations do not explicitly outline criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance through various means. Non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions by CASA, which could include directives for corrective action, fines, or other regulatory measures. The severity of these actions would depend on the specific circumstances and the potential risk posed by non-compliance. It is crucial for operators to adhere to these directives to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft in question.