{"id":"F2006B08086","name":"AD/CESSNA 210/38 Amdt 1 - Vented Fuel Caps - Installation","slug":"ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":115190,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B08086-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/CESSNA 210/38 Amdt 1 - Vented Fuel Caps - Installation","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 210 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/CESSNA 210/38\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nVented Fuel Caps \\- Installation 8/80\n\nApplicability: Models 210 and T210 with S/Nos. 616, 618, 57001 to 57575, 21057576 to 21059361 and T210-0001 to T210-0454.\n\nRequirement: Install vented fuel cap(s) in accordance with:\n\n1. Cessna SL No. SE77-6; or\n\n2. FAA AD 79-10-14, Amendment 39-3475.\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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment adds an explicit note disallowing the fitting of a placard as an alternative to installing vented fuel caps. The Background explains this was done because of misinterpretation of the Directive; the addition tightens the acceptable compliance method without changing the core requirement to install vented caps or the listed applicability and deadlines. (Note; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Specific serial-number applicability (Models 210 and T210 with listed S/N ranges), which requires checking each aircraft against the list. (Applicability)","Mandate to follow external technical documents (Cessna SL SE77-6 or FAA AD 79-10-14), creating a dependency on those documents for execution and interpretation. (Requirement)","Two-part compliance deadline (within 100 hours after a specific date OR before another specific date, whichever is later), which requires simple temporal calculation against an aircraft's hours-in-service. (Compliance)","Explicit prohibition of an alternative measure (placard), narrowing acceptable compliance methods and eliminating a potential low-cost substitute. (Note)","No stated exemption process or discretion in the text, so implementers must comply as written or seek separate administrative relief outside the instrument. (Requirement; Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- It requires owners/operators of certain Cessna 210 and T210 aeroplanes (listed by serial number) to install vented fuel cap(s). (Applicability; Requirement)\n- The installation must follow either Cessna Service Letter SE77-6 or FAA Airworthiness Directive 79-10-14. (Requirement)\n- Installing a placard instead of vented caps is explicitly disallowed. (Note)\n- The work must be completed within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1979, or before 1 January 1980, whichever is later. (Compliance)\n\nWhy the rule exists (claimed purpose)\n\n- The background states the change is intended to provide secondary venting to guard against an obstructed primary vent or a sticking fuel tank vent valve. The text says this is the reason for requiring vented fuel caps. (Background)\n\nWho decides and who pays\n\n- Aircraft owners or operators of the affected serial-numbered Cessna 210/T210s must arrange compliance. They are the parties who must procure and have the vented fuel caps installed and therefore bear the direct cost and effort of compliance. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)\n- The rule prescribes the technical standards to be followed (the two referenced documents); it does not in the text provide an alternative method or an exemption procedure. (Requirement; Note)\n\nKey implementation, incentive and compliance effects (mechanisms, trade-offs and risks)\n\n- Compliance burden: operators must source vented fuel caps and have them installed in accordance with one of two specified technical documents. That creates a direct maintenance cost and scheduling requirement tied to the aircraft's hours-in-service. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Limited alternatives: the directive removes a potential low-cost alternative (putting up a placard) by expressly disallowing it, so operators cannot rely on a warning label in place of the physical modification. This constrains substitution options available to operators. (Note)\n- Reliance on external documents: the substantive steps are defined by external manufacturer or FAA documents. Operators must obtain and follow those documents to achieve compliance, which imposes an information/implementation dependency. (Requirement)\n- Concentration of obligation: the obligation applies to a defined, identifiable set of aircraft (specific serial numbers). That concentrates compliance costs on those owners/operators; suppliers and maintenance providers who sell or fit vented caps are the likely recipients of that demand. (Applicability; Requirement)\n- Implementation risk: success depends on correct installation per the referenced documents and on timely scheduling before the stated compliance deadline. The directive does not record an alternate compliance pathway or an administrative discretion mechanism in the text. (Requirement; Compliance; Note)\n\nSummary statement\n\n- The directive is a prescriptive safety requirement for specified Cessna 210/T210 serial numbers to receive vented fuel caps following defined technical guidance within a fixed compliance window. The stated safety rationale is to provide secondary venting against obstructed vents or sticking vent valves. The rule creates a direct maintenance obligation and associated costs for the listed aircraft owners/operators, removes a non‑installation alternative (a placard), and ties compliance to external technical documents."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive remains tightly focused on its original purpose: mandating vented fuel caps for specific Cessna 210 aircraft to prevent fuel starvation. The amendment (Amendment 1) did not expand the scope — it merely clarified that placards cannot substitute for the required hardware installation."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability (specific aircraft models/serial numbers), requirement (two alternative compliance methods), compliance deadline, and background","No cross-references to other legislation beyond citing external technical documents (Cessna Service Letter and FAA AD)","Simple conditional logic: 'whichever is the later' for compliance timing","Single amendment (Amendment 1) with straightforward change — adding a note to clarify that placards are not acceptable"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific repairs or modifications to aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain **Cessna 210 series aeroplanes** to install **vented fuel caps** on their aircraft. These special fuel caps have built-in vents that allow air to enter the fuel tank.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout proper venting, fuel tanks can develop a vacuum as fuel is used, which can cause **engine fuel starvation** (the engine stops getting fuel and fails). This directive addresses two specific risks:\n- The main fuel tank vent becoming blocked\n- The fuel tank vent valve getting stuck\n\nThe vented caps act as a **backup safety system** (secondary venting) to prevent these failures.\n\n**Who must comply:**\nOwners of Cessna 210 and T210 models with specific serial numbers (listed in the Applicability section).\n\n**What must be done:**\nInstall vented fuel caps following either:\n- Cessna Service Letter SE77-6, **or**\n- American FAA Airworthiness Directive 79-10-14\n\n**Important restriction:**\nSimply putting a warning sign (placard) on the aircraft is **not allowed** as a substitute for installing the actual vented caps.\n\n**When it had to be done:**\nWithin 100 flight hours after 31 August 1979, or before 1 January 1980 — whichever came later."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-210-38-amdt-1-vented-fuel-caps-installation/documents"}}