{"id":"F2006B05022","name":"AD/CESSNA 177/28 - Fuel Cap Alignment Placard","slug":"ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44932,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05022-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/CESSNA 177/28 - Fuel Cap Alignment Placard","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Cessna 177 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/CESSNA 177/28 Fuel Cap Alignment Placard 9/80\n\nApplicability: Model 177 with S/Nos. 661, 17700001 to 17702752; Model 177RG with S/Nos. 177RG0001 to 177RG0177; Model F177RG with S/Nos. F177RG0001 to F177RG0177.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Cessna SIL No. SE 80-59. Compliance:  Within 100 hours time in service after 30 September 1980.\n\nBackground: Correct alignment of flush fitting type fuel caps is essential for efficient operation of the fuel tank secondary vent system.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive's scope is limited to the specified Cessna 177-series models and serial-number ranges and requires actions per the manufacturer’s Service Instruction Letter SE 80-59. Nothing in the text expands or narrows that applicability beyond these explicit serial-number lists and the single described requirement; therefore the scope appears consistent with the instrument's stated purpose (Applicability; Requirement; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical focus: single maintenance action (fuel cap alignment/placard) rather than a broad regulatory regime.","External technical reference: compliance requires following Cessna SIL SE 80-59, which is not reproduced in the AD and must be obtained separately. (Requirement)","Serial-number limited applicability: the AD applies only to specific S/N ranges, requiring operators to check applicability carefully. (Applicability)","Fixed compliance timeframe tied to flight hours and calendar date (100 hours after 30 Sept 1980), requiring operators to calculate remaining compliance window. (Compliance)","Regulatory mandatory status under Civil Aviation Regulations but operationally implemented via routine maintenance procedures, implying modest enforcement complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"What this directive does (mechanical change)\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires that certain Cessna 177-series aeroplanes have the fuel cap alignment checked and a placard fitted or updated in accordance with Cessna Service Instruction Letter SE 80-59. (Requirement)\n- The action is targeted to specific serial-number ranges of Model 177, 177RG and F177RG aircraft. (Applicability)\n- Operators must complete the work within 100 hours time in service after 30 September 1980. (Compliance)\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Owners and operators of Cessna 177-series aeroplanes whose serial numbers are listed in the Applicability section: Model 177 S/N 17700001–17702752 (and S/No. 661), Model 177RG S/N 177RG0001–177RG0177, and Model F177RG S/N F177RG0001–F177RG0177. They are the parties legally required to comply. (Applicability)\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical implications)\n\n- The Background section states that correct alignment of flush-fitting type fuel caps is essential for efficient operation of the fuel tank secondary vent system. The AD therefore mandates the alignment/placard action to address that technical need. (Background; Requirement)\n\nPractical mechanics, costs and who decides\n\n- The regulator (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) imposes the requirement; compliance is performed by the aircraft owner/operator or their maintenance provider following the manufacturer’s Service Instruction Letter SE 80-59. (Requirement)\n- Who pays: the owner/operator bears the direct cost of the inspection and any corrective work and of obtaining the service instructions or technical assistance. (Requirement)\n- What changes in behaviour: operators must inspect and, if needed, adjust or mark fuel cap alignment and fit the specified placard per the Cessna instruction. This adds a maintenance task and potential brief aircraft downtime. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nCompliance burden, implementation risk and trade-offs\n\n- Compliance burden: the action depends on following an external manufacturer instruction (Cessna SIL SE 80-59). That creates a dependency on that document for technical detail; the AD itself does not reproduce the steps. (Requirement)\n- Implementation risk: incorrect or incomplete adherence to the SIL could leave the venting issue unresolved. The AD does not describe enforcement priorities or inspection schedules beyond the 100-hour deadline. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Opportunity cost and downtime: owners must allocate maintenance time and possibly pay a licensed technician; those resources are diverted from other maintenance or operational uses. (Compliance)\n\nEffects on private enterprise and competition\n\n- The rule imposes a uniform maintenance requirement on the listed aircraft; it does not create or remove market entry, ownership rights, or ongoing fees. Compliance may create small, concentrated costs for affected owners and a narrowly concentrated benefit (improved fuel cap alignment/vent performance) for those operators. (Applicability; Background)\n\nSummary statement\n\n- This Airworthiness Directive mandates a specific maintenance action — aligning flush-type fuel caps and fitting a placard — for listed Cessna 177-series aircraft, to be done per Cessna Service Instruction Letter SE 80-59 within the stated 100-hour compliance window. The owner/operator must pay for and arrange the work; the regulatory requirement references the manufacturer’s procedure for technical detail. (Requirement; Compliance; Background)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound airworthiness directive from 1980 with a single, specific purpose. It has not expanded beyond its original intent of mandating a fuel cap alignment placard for specific Cessna 177 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 3 defined applicability categories (specific aircraft models and serial number ranges)","Single requirement referencing an external technical document (Cessna SIL No. SE 80-59)","Simple compliance deadline (100 hours time in service after fixed date)","No nested conditions, exceptions, or cross-references to other legislation","Straightforward background explanation without technical sub-clauses"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners and operators of certain **Cessna 177 series aeroplanes** to install a placard (a warning label) near the fuel caps. This placard ensures pilots and ground crew align the flush-fitting fuel caps correctly.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nIf these fuel caps aren't aligned properly, the fuel tank's **secondary vent system** won't work properly. This could lead to fuel flow problems, engine stalling, or potentially dangerous flight conditions.\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- Cessna Model 177 (specific serial numbers)\n- Cessna Model 177RG (retractable gear version, specific serial numbers)  \n- Cessna Model F177RG (French-built version, specific serial numbers)\n\n**What owners must do:**\nFollow the instructions in **Cessna Service Information Letter No. SE 80-59** and complete the work within **100 hours of flight time** after 30 September 1980.\n\n**In short:** This is a one-time safety fix from 1980 requiring a simple label installation to prevent fuel system problems on specific Cessna aircraft."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-177-28-fuel-cap-alignment-placard/documents"}}