CASA EX98/16 - Exemption — Cessna Supplemental Inspection Document requirements

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Legislation au F2016L01053 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

Exemption  Cessna Supplemental Inspection Document requirements

 

Legislation

Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations. Subregulation 11.160 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provides that, for subsection 98 (5A) of the Act, CASA may grant an exemption from a provision of the Regulations, including the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988) or a provision of the Civil Aviation Orders (the CAOs), in relation to a matter mentioned in that subsection. Under subregulation 11.160 (2), an exemption may be granted to a person, or to a class of persons, and may specify the class by reference to membership of a specified body or any other characteristic.

 

Under subregulation 11.205 (1) of CASR 1998, CASA may impose conditions on an exemption if this is necessary in the interests of the safety of air navigation. Under regulation 11.225 of CASR 1998, an exemption must be published on the Internet. Under subregulation 11.230 (1), an exemption ceases on the day specified within it (but no longer than 3 years after its commencement) or, if no day is specified, 3 years after commencement.

 

The instrument provides an exemption for persons maintaining Cessna single engine aircraft from regulation 42V of CAR 1988, and for persons certifying maintenance of single engine aircraft from subregulation 42ZP (1) of CAR 1988. Regulation 42V requires persons maintaining aircraft to do so in accordance with the applicable provisions of the aircraft’s approved maintenance data. Subregulation 42ZP (1) of CAR 1988 states that a person must not certify the completion of maintenance on an aircraft if the maintenance was not carried out in accordance with the approved maintenance data for the aircraft.

 

Under each regulation, CASA considers that an obligation to comply with Supplemental Inspection Documents (SIDs) exists. The exemption only applies to the following Cessna documents:

 

(a)   Service Bulletin SEB03-1 or SB 02-55-01 “Elevator Rivet Installation” as referenced in Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) 55-10-01;

(b)   Service Bulletin SEB 05-2 “Fuselage skin & Fuel Step reinforcement” as referenced in SID 53-12-01;

(c)   Service Bulletin SE84-15 (Service Kit SK182-84) “Shimmy Dampener Installation Improvement”;

(d)   Any SID task for the aircraft Landing Gear with Supplemental Inspection Numbers beginning with “32-”- (ATA32).

 

The exemption does not apply where a fault is detected in a fastener in the elevator, where the airframe has been modified to change the loading of the stabilisers or any defect or damage is found in a place to which the abovementioned Cessna documents apply, which requires rectification.

 

The exemption is also expressed not to affect the need to comply with Supplemental Inspection Document Number 55-101 Horizontal Stabilizer, Elevators and Attachments Inspection or Document Number 53-12-01 Fuselage lower doorpost and strut fitting.

 

Legislative Instruments Act

Subsection 98 (5AA) of the Act states that an instrument issued under paragraph 98 (5A) (a) is a legislative instrument if it applies to a class of persons or a class of aircraft. This exemption applies to a class of aircraft and classes of persons and is accordingly a legislative instrument. As a legislative instrument, it is subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under sections 38 and 42 of the Legislation Act 2003 (the LA).

 

Consultation

Section 17(2) of the LA states (2)  In determining whether any consultation that was undertaken is appropriate, the rule-maker may have regard to any relevant matter, including the extent to which the consultation:

(a)   drew on the knowledge of persons having expertise in fields relevant to the proposed instrument; and

(b)   ensured that persons likely to be affected by the proposed instrument had an adequate opportunity to comment on its proposed content.

 

On 7 June 2016, CASA consulted with a number of chief engineers of maintenance organisations about the exemption. They represented a significant proportion of owners of affected aircraft as well as aircraft maintainers who have been performing SIDS inspections.

 

Further, the exemption replaces exemption EX110/15 issued on 30 June 2015.  It also modifies a previous ruling that affected the maintenance of single engine Cessna aircraft. The exemption is intended to require the operator of a single engine Cessna aircraft to carry out particular inspections of aircraft elevators and associated areas only if a working or loose fastener in the elevator is detected, there has been an increase in the loading of the stabilisers or any defect or damage is found in a place to which the abovementioned Cessna documents apply, which requires rectification.

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

 

Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR)

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because the exemption is covered by a standing agreement between CASA and OBPR under which a RIS is not required for exemptions (OBPR id: 14507).

 

Making and commencement

The instrument has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998.

 

The instrument commences on the day of registration. It expires at the end of June 2018.

 

[Instrument number CASA EX98/16]

Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Exemption non-compliance with certain Supplemental Inspection Document requirements

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the legislative instrument

The legislative instrument is intended to allow persons carrying out maintenance on Cessna aircraft, or persons with responsibility for certifying the completion of maintenance to do so without complying with Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB03-1 Elevator Rivet Installation.

 

The exemption does not create any new obligations or liabilities but clarifies an existing requirement to comply with a document treated as a Supplemental Inspection Document.

 

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

 

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) were enacted to ensure the safety of air navigation in Australia, and the Civil Aviation Act 1988 provides the authority for the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to make such regulations. To address specific safety concerns, CASA has the power to grant exemptions from certain regulatory provisions, as outlined in section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The instrument in question is an exemption from certain Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) requirements for maintaining and certifying single engine Cessna aircraft. The exemption was designed to provide flexibility in certain maintenance tasks while maintaining overall safety standards. CASA consulted with relevant stakeholders, including chief engineers of maintenance organisations, to ensure the exemption met safety and operational needs. The exemption is a legislative instrument and thus subject to tabling and disallowance in Parliament. It was made under the delegation of authority provided by CASA and commenced on the day of registration, expiring at the end of June 2018. The instrument has been assessed for compatibility with human rights and was found not to engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provide a regulatory framework to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, and under the authority of section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can grant exemptions from certain regulatory requirements. Specifically, the exemption in question, outlined in the instrument F2016L01053, pertains to the maintenance and certification of Cessna single engine aircraft, allowing persons involved in these activities to deviate from certain Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) requirements under specific circumstances. This exemption applies to particular Cessna documents, such as those relating to elevator rivet installation, fuselage skin reinforcement, and shimmy dampener installation, but does not apply if a fault, defect, or damage is detected in the specified areas. The exemption is subject to conditions and is intended to ensure that safety remains paramount while providing some flexibility in compliance. The exemption applies nationally and is subject to the legislative oversight mechanisms, including potential disallowance by Parliament. CASA consulted with relevant stakeholders during the development of this exemption, ensuring that those likely to be affected had an opportunity to provide input. The exemption is also compatible with human rights, as detailed in the accompanying Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provide a framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia, and this particular instrument under review grants an exemption from certain Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) requirements for specific Cessna single engine aircraft. The main sections of this instrument include subregulations 11.160 and 11.205 of CASR 1998, which allow the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to grant exemptions from regulatory provisions and impose conditions on those exemptions for safety reasons, respectively. Regulation 11.225 mandates that any granted exemption be published on the Internet, while regulation 11.230 stipulates that such an exemption ceases after a specified period or, if no period is specified, after three years from its commencement. This instrument imposes obligations on the parties it governs, primarily those responsible for maintaining and certifying the maintenance of Cessna single engine aircraft. Under the exemption, these parties are relieved from the requirement to comply with specific SIDs unless a fault is detected in a fastener in the elevator, the airframe has been modified to change the loading of the stabilisers, or any defect or damage is found in a place to which the specified Cessna documents apply, which necessitates rectification. Additionally, the exemption does not affect the need to comply with certain other SIDs, such as the Horizontal Stabilizer, Elevators and Attachments Inspection or Fuselage lower doorpost and strut fitting. Breach of the provisions in this instrument may lead to civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within the instrument, general regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) and CASR 1998 may apply. These could include fines or imprisonment for individuals and financial penalties for corporations, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety. Given the nature of aviation safety regulations, any failure to comply with the conditions of this exemption could potentially result in significant consequences, including the grounding of aircraft and potential risks to flight safety.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.