COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 1900 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/BEECH 1900/33 Cockpit Voice Recorder Audio Amplifier 12/2000
Applicability: 1. Model 1900 and 1900C series aeroplanes as follows:
- all serial number aeroplanes with Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Kit No 114-3020 variation (-1, -3, -7, or -9) incorporated,
b. all serial number aeroplanes with RAC Kit No 114-3032-1 incorporated,
c. all serial number aeroplanes with RAC Kit No 114-3008-1 incorporated, and
d. all serial number aeroplanes where RAC installed the CVR.
2. Model 1900D series aeroplanes serial numbers UE-1 through UE-376. Requirement: Modify the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) system in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions Section of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 23-3094
issued November 1999.
Note: FAA AD 2000-20-07 Amdt 39-11918 refers.
Compliance: Before 30 November 2001.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 November 2000.
Background: The United States Federal Aviation Administration has received reports of six instances where the recording quality of the CVR system in Raytheon Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D aeroplanes was so poor that the information was practically unrecoverable.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
This Directive requires modification of the CVR System. This action is intended to correct substandard quality cockpit voice recordings caused by the configuration of the present CVR system, which could affect air safety if important information that the CVR provides is not available after an accident.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 20 October 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 1 November 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation within Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. This legislative framework was developed to address the growing complexity and risks associated with civil aviation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the enforcing body, plays a crucial role in maintaining airworthiness standards and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. This specific Airworthiness Directive was introduced in response to reports of inadequate cockpit voice recordings in certain Beechcraft 1900 Series aeroplanes, which could compromise safety by making critical information unavailable in the event of an accident. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance the quality of cockpit voice recordings, thereby improving the potential for post-accident investigations and learning from incidents.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BEECH 1900/33, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), pertains specifically to Beechcraft 1900 Series aeroplanes, including models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D. This AD applies to all serial number aeroplanes within these models that have undergone specific modifications by Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), as well as those with particular kits installed. The directive mandates that the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) system be modified according to the instructions provided in Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 23-3094 issued in November 1999. The purpose of this modification is to address the issue of poor recording quality, which has been reported in several instances, potentially compromising the availability of crucial information after an accident. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with the requirement to complete the modifications before 30 November 2001, and the directive became effective on 30 November 2000.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) in relation to Beechcraft 1900 Series aeroplanes. The AD, identified as AD/BEECH 1900/33, pertains specifically to the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) audio amplifier system. This directive applies to certain models and serial numbers of the Beechcraft 1900 and 1900C series, as well as a range of serial numbers for the 1900D series. The requirement is that these aircraft must have their CVR systems modified in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions Section of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 23-3094 issued in November 1999. This modification is necessary to address issues with the quality of audio recordings, which have been reported as being of such poor quality that the information is practically unrecoverable.
Under this directive, operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the specified modifications to the CVR system are completed before 30 November 2001. The AD became effective on 30 November 2000. The rationale behind this directive stems from reports received by the United States Federal Aviation Administration indicating that substandard CVR recordings could lead to the unavailability of critical information following an accident, thus compromising air safety.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. Primarily, these entities must adhere to the compliance timeline specified in the AD, ensuring that the necessary modifications to the CVR system are carried out before the deadline. Additionally, operators must ensure that the modifications are performed in accordance with the instructions provided in Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 23-3094. Failure to comply with these requirements may have significant legal and safety implications.
The consequences of non-compliance with this AD are serious, given the critical role that the CVR system plays in aviation safety. While the AD does not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to CASA directives can result in severe civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft certificates, and other regulatory actions. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of ensuring that CVR systems function correctly to provide essential data for accident investigations and to enhance overall aviation safety.