{"id":"F2006B05197","name":"AD/CESSNA 205/13 Amdt 1 - Vented Fuel Caps","slug":"ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":45388,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05197-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/CESSNA 205/13 Amdt 1 - Vented Fuel Caps","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nCessna 205 (210-5) Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/CESSNA 205/13\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nVented Fuel Caps 8/80\n\nApplicability: Model 205 with S/Nos. 641 and 205-0001 to 205-0577. Requirement: Install vented fuel cap(s) in accordance with Cessna SL No. SE77-6.\n\nNote: FAA AD 79-10-14, Amendment 39-3475 refers.\n\nNote: Installation of a placard is not an acceptable alternative to installation of vented fuel caps.\n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980, whichever is the later.\n\nBackground: To guard against the possibility of either an obstructed primary vent or sticking of the fuel tank vent valve it has been found necessary to provide secondary venting in the form of vented fuel caps. Due to some misinterpretation of this Directive a NOTE has now been added to disallow the fitting of a placard.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment narrows acceptable compliance options by adding an explicit prohibition on meeting the requirement with a placard, addressing a prior misinterpretation. Otherwise the applicability, required action (installation per Cessna SL No. SE77-6) and the compliance timeframe remain as stated. (Note; Background; Requirement; Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to specific Model 205 serial numbers (Applicability)","Single, specific technical requirement (install vented fuel caps) referenced to an external service letter (Requirement)","Short, fixed compliance window defined by hours-in-service and calendar dates (Compliance)","Explicit prohibition of a substitute measure (placard), reducing interpretive options (Note)","Dependence on an external manufacturer document (Cessna SL No. SE77-6) and cross-reference to an FAA AD increases procedural linkage but not substantive complexity (Requirement; Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanical change)\n\n- It requires the installation of vented fuel cap(s) on certain Cessna 205 aeroplanes. (Requirement)\n- The work must be done in accordance with Cessna Service Letter No. SE77-6. (Requirement)\n- A placard is explicitly not an acceptable substitute for installing the vented caps. (Note)\n- The deadline is within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980, whichever is the later. (Compliance)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Owners/operators of Model 205 aeroplanes with serial numbers 641 and 205-0001 through 205-0577. (Applicability)\n\nWhy it was introduced (official rationale and immediate change)\n\n- The stated purpose is to provide secondary venting to guard against the possibility of an obstructed primary vent or a sticking fuel tank vent valve. The directive therefore mandates vented fuel caps rather than allowing other measures. (Background; Requirement)\n- A note was added because of previous misinterpretation that allowed some to consider a placard as an alternative; the note disallows that option. (Note; Background)\n\nPractical effects, incentives and compliance burdens (mechanics, who pays, who decides)\n\n- Who pays: The aircraft owner/operator must arrange and bear the cost of installing the vented caps as required by the directive and the cited service letter. (Applicability; Requirement)\n- Who decides and how: The AD (Civil Aviation Safety Authority schedule entry) prescribes the action; the technical details are to be followed from Cessna Service Letter SE77-6. The AD also removes the option of meeting the requirement via a placard. (Requirement; Note)\n- Compliance burden and scheduling: Compliance requires physical modification within a fixed hours-in-service window, which creates a scheduling and maintenance obligation for affected operators. (Compliance)\n- Implementation dependencies and verification: Compliance depends on following an external manufacturer service letter (SE77-6) and on availability of parts and maintenance resources to perform the installation. The AD cites an FAA AD for reference but mandates following the Cessna service letter. (Requirement; Note)\n\nTrade-offs, risks and predictable behavioural responses (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- By mandating hardware (vented fuel caps) and disallowing a placard alternative, the AD reduces the set of compliance options available to operators and channels compliance toward a physical modification. (Requirement; Note)\n- The AD addresses a previous misinterpretation by explicitly forbidding the placard alternative; that reduces ambiguity but also removes a lower-cost or temporary compliance workaround that some operators may have considered. (Note; Background)\n- The requirement creates demand for the specified parts and installation services for the affected serial-numbered aircraft; independent maintenance providers can supply and perform the work in line with the service letter. (Requirement)\n\nImplementation note\n\n- The AD is narrowly targeted by model and serial number and sets a clear technical action and deadline, with the design details to be taken from Cessna SL No. SE77-6. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment does not expand scope. It merely clarifies an existing requirement (prohibiting placards as an alternative) without adding new aircraft, new requirements, or extending the compliance timeframe. The original intent was to mandate vented fuel caps; this amendment reinforces that intent against misinterpretation."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 substantive requirement (install vented fuel caps)","Single applicability criterion (specific serial number range)","Simple compliance deadline (hours-based with fixed date fallback)","No defined terms section, no cross-references to other legislation beyond a single FAA AD reference for context","Minimal conditional logic (just 'whichever is the later' in compliance clause)","One amendment adding a single clarifying note"],"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:**\n- Requires owners/operators of certain **Cessna 205 model aeroplanes** (specifically serial numbers 641 and 205-0001 through 205-0577) to **install vented fuel caps**\n- These caps provide a **backup way for fuel tanks to breathe** (secondary venting) in case the main vent gets blocked or the fuel tank vent valve sticks\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Blocked fuel vents can cause dangerous pressure problems in fuel tanks — potentially leading to fuel starvation, engine failure, or structural damage\n- The original directive from 1979 was being misinterpreted: some people thought they could just put a **warning placard** (a sign) on the aircraft instead of actually installing the proper caps\n- This amendment (Amendment 1) **clarifies that a placard is NOT acceptable** — you must install the physical vented caps\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- Anyone operating the affected Cessna 205 aircraft\n- **Deadline:** Within 100 hours of flying time after 31 August 1979, or before 1 January 1980 — whichever comes later (so this is long past, but the directive remains in force for any aircraft still flying that haven't complied)\n\n**Key takeaway:** This is a **retroactive safety fix** — older aircraft must be modified to prevent fuel system failures, and shortcuts like warning signs aren't good enough."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-205-13-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps/documents"}}