COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beagle B121 (Pup) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEA 121/27
Amdt 2
Applicability: All models.
Control Column Handgrips 6/91
Requirement: Action in accordance with Mandatory British Aerospace SB B121/95 Revision 2.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document with revised accomplishment dates for Australian registered aircraft of 13 July 1991 and 13 September 1991; for respective LH and RH handgrip replacement.
Background: Cases have been reported of fractures of the handgrips (Part No. BE-45-10283) fitted to the control columns of bulldog aircraft. These handgrips are identical to those fitted to Pup aircraft. Failures may be more likely on aircraft operating in climates susceptible to high levels of ultraviolet radiation.
Amendment 1 was raised in response to two recent occurrences of in flight failure of the control column handgrips during aerobatics. The failed handgrips had no evidence of surface cracking. This amendment introduces revised inspection procedures to ensure that the handgrips are airworthy.
Further testing has established that non destructive inspection is not adequate to detect degradation of strength. The handgrips are now lifed at five years.