AD/BEECH 18/4 Amdt 1 - Horizontal Stabiliser Spar - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, were enacted to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. The specific legislative instrument F2006B03623, concerning Beechcraft 18 Series Aeroplanes, was introduced to address the issue of potential structural weaknesses in the horizontal stabiliser spars of certain models, thereby enhancing aircraft safety. This regulation was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The policy objective is to mandate regular inspections and, if necessary, modifications to the horizontal stabiliser spars of the specified Beechcraft models to prevent structural failure and ensure continued airworthiness. The compliance intervals ensure that these critical components are inspected at regular intervals, mitigating risks associated with prolonged service.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, governs the airworthiness directives for aircraft within Australia. The regulation in question pertains to Beechcraft 18 Series Aeroplanes, specifically the models C-18S, D-18S, and AT-11, which have not undergone modifications as per Beech SB D-18-48. This regulation mandates that inspections for cracks in the horizontal stabiliser spar and sub-spar be carried out at specified intervals to ensure continued airworthiness. The regulation applies to aircraft operators who must adhere to these inspection requirements to maintain their aircraft's certification and safety standards. Failure to comply with these directives can result in the aircraft being deemed non-compliant and potentially grounded until the necessary inspections and modifications are performed. The regulation extends its application through subordinate instruments, which may provide further details or clarifications necessary for compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as outlined in PART 39 - 105, specifically address the maintenance and safety of Beechcraft 18 Series aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 18/4 Amendment 1. This directive pertains to the inspection and potential modification of the horizontal stabiliser spar and sub-spar to ensure the aircraft's airworthiness. According to the directive, the inspection of the horizontal stabiliser front spar and sub-spar at the points of attachment to the fuselage is required, as well as a more thorough inspection of these components after removing the stabiliser and stabiliser lower skin panel (Section 1). This inspection must be conducted for models C-18S, D-18S, and AT-11, unless they have been modified according to Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. D-18-48. The obligations imposed by these regulations are quite specific and must be adhered to for compliance. Operators of the aforementioned Beechcraft models must inspect the horizontal stabiliser front spar and sub-spar for any cracks at the points of attachment to the fuselage at intervals not exceeding 10 hours of time in service (Section 1). A more comprehensive inspection involving the removal of the stabiliser and stabiliser lower skin panel must occur at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service from the last inspection (Section 2). If any cracking is detected during these inspections, the stabiliser attachment must either be modified according to Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. D-18-48 or to the satisfaction of the Secretary before the aircraft can be flown again. Failure to comply with these Airworthiness Directives can result in severe consequences. If an operator neglects to perform the required inspections or fails to address any identified issues with the horizontal stabiliser spar and sub-spar, they may face civil or criminal penalties. The precise nature of these penalties is not detailed within the legislative instrument itself but generally, violations of Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to significant fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The seriousness of such non-compliance cannot be understated, as it directly impacts the safety of the aircraft and those on board.