AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
Cessna 120 · Airworthiness Directives
Overview
This document is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia concerning the Cessna 120 and 140 series aeroplanes. It outlines necessary inspections and modifications to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft. Specifically, it addresses potential cracks in the fuselage rear bulkhead, which could compromise structural integrity. The directive mandates inspections and, if necessary, the installation of a reinforced bulkhead to prevent unsafe conditions. Compliance with this directive is crucial for maintaining the operational safety of the affected aircraft models.
- Inspect the fuselage rear bulkhead for cracks, especially at the lower right-hand corner.
- If cracks are found, replace with a new bulkhead as per Cessna Drawing No. 0412169.
- Compliance is required within 100 hours or 12 months after 15 May 2003, whichever comes first.
- Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until reinforcement is completed.
- This directive applies to Cessna 120 and 140 aircraft with serial numbers up to 14289.
Document
Source
Originally published by services.casa.gov.au. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type
- Airworthiness Directives
- Year
- 2003
- Pages
- 1
- File size
- 21 KB
- Publisher
- services.casa.gov.au
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In this document
Applicability
The AD applies to Cessna 120 and 140 aircraft with serial numbers up to and including 14289. This section clarifies which specific aircraft models and serial numbers are required to comply with the inspection and modification outlined in the directive.
Requirement
The primary requirement of this AD is to inspect the lower right-hand corner of the cut-out in the fuselage rear bulkhead for cracks. If any cracks are detected, the directive mandates the installation of a new type bulkhead with an added reinforcement channel, following Cessna Drawing No. 0412169.
Compliance
Compliance with the directive is required within 100 hours of time in service or 12 months after 15 May 2003, whichever comes first. After the initial compliance, inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service until the fuselage rear bulkhead has been reinforced.
Background
The background section explains that the FAA has mandated inspections of the fuselage rear bulkhead until modifications are made. This highlights the importance of the directive in ensuring ongoing safety and compliance with aviation regulations.
Safety notes
- Failure to comply with this AD may result in unsafe operating conditions due to potential structural failure.
Full document text
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 1 of 1 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section. Cessna 120 and 140 Series Aeroplanes AD/CESSNA 120/5 Fuselage Rear Bulkhead 5/2003 Applicability: Model 120 and 140 aircraft, with serial numbers up to and including 14289. Requirement: Inspect the lower right hand corner of the cut-out in the fuselage rear bulkhead for cracks, which usually extend down to the rivet holes at the nearest anchor nut. If cracks are found, before further flight, install the new type bulkhead with reinforcement channel added in accordance with Cessna Drawing No. 0412169. Note: FAA AD 47-50-02 and Cessna Service Letter No. 46 refer. Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service or 12 months after 15 May 2003, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service; until the fuselage rear bulkhead (tail post) has been reinforced. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 May 2003. Background: The FAA requires inspection of the fuselage rear bulkhead until modified. David Alan Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 April 2003 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 April 2003.
What's in the Cessna 120 TCDS
A Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) is the FAA's record of what an aircraft type was approved as. It is the source of truth for weights, seating, fuel and the rules the design was certified against. Expand any line to see what it means.
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