{"id":"F2006B05001","name":"AD/CESSNA 170/72 - Cigar Lighter Wiring","slug":"ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44910,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05001-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# ![](image.001.png)  \nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\nFor 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 CAR 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.\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nCessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 Series Aeroplanes","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CESSNA 170/72 Cigar Lighter Wiring 3/","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CESSNA 170/72 Cigar Lighter Wiring 3/2003","content":"# AD/CESSNA 170/72 Cigar Lighter Wiring 3/2003\n\nApplicability: Model 170, 172, R172, P172 and 175 series aeroplanes with serial numbers listed in the following table:","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Models","sectionType":"part","heading":"Models","content":"## Models\n\n170\n\n172\n\nR172 P172 175","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Serial Numbers","sectionType":"part","heading":"Serial Numbers","content":"##   \nSerial Numbers\n\n18000 through 20999 and 25000 through 27169\n\n28000 through 29999, 46001 through 47746, 17247747 through\n\n17250572, and 17259224 through 17267584\n\nR1722000 through R1722724 P17257120 through P17257189\n\n55001 through 56777 and 17556778 through 17557119","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 Ser","sectionType":"part","heading":"Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 Series Aeroplanes","content":"## Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/CESSNA 170/72 (Continued)\n\nCompliance: At the next annual inspection, but no later that 100 hours time in service or 12 months after the effective date of this Directive, which ever occurs first.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003.\n\nBackground: Incidents of the cigar lighter unprotected electrical wiring shorting have been reported overseas. This Directive requires either the deactivation of the cigar lighter or the installation of a circuit protection device. These measures are designed to prevent an in-flight electrical system failure, smoke in the cockpit, and/or fire in the wire bundle behind the instrument panel.\n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\nJames Coyne\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2003\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 February 2003.","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD remains narrowly focused on correcting an identified unsafe condition relating to unprotected cigar lighter wiring on listed Cessna models and serial numbers. The measure requires either deactivation or the installation of circuit protection and is limited in time and scope by model/serial number ranges and a specific compliance deadline. There is no indication in the text provided that the directive expands beyond that original safety purpose or adds unrelated obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and focused single safety issue (cigar lighter wiring) — lowers complexity","Applicability defined by multiple model names and several serial number ranges (several discrete ranges to check)","Two alternative compliance options (deactivate OR install circuit protection) — simple conditional choice","Compliance timing uses a three‑way condition (next annual inspection OR 100 hours time-in-service OR 12 months after effective date — whichever occurs first)","No detailed technical specification of the required circuit protection in the AD text — creates implementation ambiguity but not legal complexity","Minimal cross‑referencing to other regulations (only CAR 1998 subreg 39.1(1)) and no nested exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanics)\n\n- Requires owners/operators of certain Cessna 170/172/172R/172P/175 series aeroplanes (specific serial number ranges listed under \"Applicability\") to either:  \n  - deactivate the cigar lighter, or  \n  - install a circuit protection device on the cigar lighter wiring.  \n- The work must be done at the next annual inspection, or no later than 100 hours time in service or 12 months after the AD's effective date — whichever comes first (Compliance).  \n- The directive is issued by the CASA delegate under the Civil Aviation Regulations; it becomes effective on 20 March 2003 (Compliance / Effective date).\n\n**Who this affects\n\n- Aircraft owners/operators of the listed Cessna models with serial numbers in the ranges printed under \"Applicability.\"  \n- Maintenance organisations or certificated mechanics who carry out annual inspections and the corrective work.  \n- Passengers or pilots who use the cigar lighter / accessory power outlet may lose that convenience if the lighter is deactivated.\n\n**Why it matters (stated safety rationale)\n\n- The Background says overseas incidents have been reported where unprotected cigar lighter wiring shorted, creating a risk of in‑flight electrical failure, smoke in the cockpit, or fire in the instrument panel wiring bundle. The AD’s stated purpose is to eliminate that unsafe condition (Background).\n\n**Practical effects, costs and incentives (analytical lens)\n\n- Direct costs: owners/operators pay for parts and labour to fit a circuit protection device or to disable the lighter. Those are one‑off maintenance costs performed at the next annual inspection (Compliance).  \n- Behavioural change: maintenance providers must either remove/disable the cigar lighter circuit or fit protection; owners lose unrestricted use of that outlet unless protection is fitted.  \n- Choice and markets: aftermarket suppliers of circuit protection devices and maintenance labour may benefit from demand created by this AD. Independent maintenance operators can perform the work, subject to regulatory approval of the method used.  \n- Regulatory discretion and implementation risk: the AD gives two compliant options but does not specify the exact specification or approval route for the circuit protection device in the text provided. That leaves decisions about acceptable devices/installation methods to maintenance organisations and regulators, potentially requiring engineering approval, parts certification, or a record in the aircraft logbook.  \n- Opportunity cost: work must be scheduled at the next annual inspection or earlier if the 100‑hour/12‑month deadline is reached, which may displace other maintenance tasks or require an extra visit if the operator cannot wait.  \n- Concentrated benefits, diffuse costs: the safety benefit (reduced fire/electrical risk) accrues to occupants and the fleet at large; the immediate monetary cost is concentrated on individual aircraft owners/operators who must comply (Applicability / Background).\n\n**What the AD requires the decision‑makers to do\n\n- CASA (through the delegate) issued the AD under CAR subregulation 39.1(1) and set the compliance schedule. The aircraft owner/operator (or their maintenance provider) decides which compliance option to use (deactivate or install protection) and arranges the work (Applicability / Compliance).\n\n**Immediate practical notes for operators\n\n- Check the aeroplane serial number against the ranges listed under \"Applicability.\"  \n- Plan to have the work done at the next annual inspection or before the 100‑hour/12‑month deadline, whichever comes first (Compliance).  \n- If installing a protection device, confirm with your maintenance organisation whether the device and installation require an approval, data sheet, or supplemental type certificate (not specified in the AD text), and ensure the work is recorded in maintenance logs.\n\n(Sections cited: Applicability; Compliance; Background.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific wiring defect in specific aircraft models. The scope remains precisely limited to the cigar lighter wiring issue described in the background section."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 300 words)","Only 3 defined/model categories (170, 172, 175 series with sub-variants)","Simple binary compliance choice (deactivate OR install protection)","Single compliance trigger with three alternative deadlines (whichever occurs first)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation (CAR 1998 subreg 39.1(1))","Clear applicability table with specific serial number ranges"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of specified Cessna 170, 172 (including R/P variants) and 175 aircraft to address a hazardous cigar-lighter wiring fault that can short to metal and cause smoke, fire, or electrical failure behind the instrument panel. Affected owners must either disable the cigar lighter or install circuit protection by the next annual inspection, within 100 flight hours, or within 12 months of 20 March 2003 (whichever is sooner)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-170-72-cigar-lighter-wiring/documents"}}