COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-18 and 19 (Super Cub) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-18/9 Fuel Management Placards - Installation 9/77
Applicability: All models certificated in Agricultural and Normal/Agricultural categories. Requirement: 1. Install a placard adjacent to the fuel selector redesignating the Left Tank as the
Main Tank and the Right Tank as the Auxiliary Tank.
2. Install the following placard on the instrument panel:
“FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS USE THE MAIN FUEL TANK ONLY”
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 30 September 1977.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR) represent a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the CAR includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) that address various safety concerns related to aircraft operations. One such directive is AD/PA-18/9, which pertains to the Piper PA-18 and 19 (Super Cub) series aeroplanes. Enacted in 1977, this directive was introduced to address a safety gap concerning the fuel management placards on these aircraft models. The policy objective was to enhance operational safety by ensuring pilots correctly identify and manage fuel tanks, particularly during agricultural operations, thereby reducing the risk of fuel mismanagement which could lead to accidents. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), as the enforcing body, mandates compliance within 100 hours of time in service following 30 September 1977.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Piper PA-18 and 19 (Super Cub) series aeroplanes, applies to all models of these aircraft certificated in Agricultural and Normal/Agricultural categories. This legislative instrument mandates the installation of specific fuel management placards to enhance safety during agricultural operations. The requirement entails installing a placard adjacent to the fuel selector to redesignate the Left Tank as the Main Tank and the Right Tank as the Auxiliary Tank. Additionally, a placard must be installed on the instrument panel stating, "FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS USE THE MAIN FUEL TANK ONLY." Compliance with these directives must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1977. This regulation ensures that pilots operating these aircraft in agricultural settings are clearly informed about the appropriate fuel tank usage, thereby mitigating the risk of fuel-related incidents.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes detailed provisions for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models, including the Piper PA-18 and 19 (Super Cub) Series Aeroplanes. The particular directive AD/PA-18/9 focuses on the installation of fuel management placards (section 9/77). This directive applies to all models of these aircraft certificated in Agricultural and Normal/Agricultural categories. The primary requirement (section 1) is to install a placard adjacent to the fuel selector to redesignate the left tank as the Main Tank and the right tank as the Auxiliary Tank. Additionally, a placard must be installed on the instrument panel stating, "FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS USE THE MAIN FUEL TANK ONLY" (section 2).
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and straightforward. Operators of Piper PA-18 and 19 (Super Cub) Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the specified placards are installed within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1977. This requirement is crucial to maintain the safety and operational standards of the aircraft during agricultural operations. Failure to comply with these directives could result in the aircraft not meeting the necessary airworthiness standards, potentially leading to safety issues or regulatory penalties.
Under these regulations, non-compliance with the airworthiness directives could lead to various civil or criminal consequences. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, general provisions within the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for potential enforcement actions. These could include fines, orders for corrective action, and in severe cases, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with these regulations can be substantial, reflecting the importance of adhering to safety standards to protect the public and ensure the integrity of the aviation industry.