Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 1900/34 issued on 8 March 2001, addresses a safety issue concerning the KLN-90B GPS systems in specific Beech Model 1900D aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to mitigate risks associated with potential navigation errors due to inconsistent NAV "FLAG" displays. The directive mandates the rewiring of the KLN-90B GPS systems in compliance with the instructions provided in Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3222, issued in January 2000, to ensure that pilots receive consistent navigation information and thereby maintain situational awareness and flight safety. This action is to be completed within 400 hours of the AD's effective date, 19 April 2001, to promptly address the identified unsafe condition.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically applies to Beech Model 1900D aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from UE-156 through UE-299, which are equipped with a KLN-90B Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA00245WI-D. This AD mandates that the KLN-90B GPS must be rewired as per the Accomplishment Instructions section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3222, issued in January 2000, to address the unsafe condition identified. The AD requires compliance within the next 400 hours of time-in-service following the effective date of the directive, which is 19 April 2001. This AD is applicable within the national jurisdiction of Australia and is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 March 2001. The directive aims to mitigate the risk of inconsistent NAV "FLAG" displays, which could potentially lead to erroneous navigational decisions.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD/BEECH 1900/34) pertain to the requirements and applicability of the directive (section 39.1). This AD applies to Beech Model 1900D aeroplanes with specific serial numbers (UE-156 through UE-299) equipped with a KLN-90B GPS installed in accordance with FAA STC SA00245WI-D. The requirement section mandates that the KLN-90B GPS be rewired in accordance with the instructions set out in Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3222, issued January 2000, within 400 hours time-in-service after the AD becomes effective on 19 April 2001. The AD imposes obligations on the operators of the affected Beech Model 1900D aeroplanes to ensure that the required action of rewiring the KLN-90B GPS is carried out within the specified timeframe. This action is necessary to address an unsafe condition identified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which could lead to inconsistent NAV "FLAG" displays and potentially hazardous flight operations. Operators must comply with the instructions detailed in the Accomplishment Instructions section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3222 to correct the identified unsafe condition. Failure to comply with the AD could result in significant consequences. While the AD itself does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with ADs generally leads to serious regulatory actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Non-compliance could potentially result in penalties under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, including fines and other administrative actions. Additionally, continued operation of an aircraft that does not comply with an AD could be considered unsafe, potentially leading to further enforcement actions by CASA, including grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed.