COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 1900 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 1900/8
Amdt 1
Pilot and Co-Pilot Chair Locking Mechanism 7/97
Applicability: Models Serial Numbers
1900 Airliner, 1900C, and 1900D.
UA-1 through UA-3, UB-1 through UB-74, UC-1 through UC-174, and UE-1 through UE-17.
Requirement: a. Inspect the pilot and co-pilot chairs to assure that the locking pins will fully engage in the seat tracks, in accordance with the “Accomplishment Instructions” section of Beech Service Bulletin 2444 Revision II.
b. Modify any chair where the locking pin fails to fully engage or is misaligned, in accordance with the maintenance manual as specified in Beech Service Bulletin 2444, Revision II.
Note: FAA AD 97-06-06 Amdt 39-9963 refers.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, within 150 hours time in service after 19 June 1997.
This amendment becomes effective on 19 June 1997.
Background: The FAA received reports of pilot and co-pilot chair locking pin malfunctions, which in one instance caused the pilot chair to slide back from the full forward position.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires the inspection to be accomplished in accordance with revised service information, as reflected in Revision II of the requirement document.
The original issue of this airworthiness directive became effective on 1 April 1993.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, form the primary piece of legislation governing civil aviation safety in Australia. As part of this regulatory framework, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety concerns and ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. One such AD is AD/BEECH 1900/8 Amendment 1, issued in 1997. This directive responds to reports of chair locking pin malfunctions in Beechcraft 1900 Series aeroplanes, which posed a safety risk. The directive mandates that specific models of the Beechcraft 1900 must be inspected and, if necessary, modified to ensure the locking pins fully engage in the seat tracks. The aim of this directive is to prevent incidents where chairs may slide unexpectedly, thereby maintaining the safety of flight operations. This measure aligns with the overarching policy objective of CASA to ensure the highest standards of airworthiness and safety in Australian civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, addresses the airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the Beechcraft 1900 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all Beechcraft 1900 Airliner, 1900C, and 1900D models within the specified serial number ranges. The directive mandates inspections and modifications to the pilot and co-pilot chair locking mechanisms to ensure they function correctly, as outlined in Beech Service Bulletin 2444, Revision II. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory, with inspections and necessary modifications to be carried out within 150 hours of service after the directive's effective date of 19 June 1997. This amendment responds to reports of locking pin malfunctions and is in line with FAA AD 97-06-06 Amdt 39-9963. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of these regulations is national, applying across Australia and overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive does not specify exclusions or exemptions, indicating that all applicable aircraft must adhere to the requirements without exception.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of this Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directive pertain specifically to the Beechcraft 1900 Series Aeroplanes, covering models 1900 Airliner, 1900C, and 1900D. The directive applies to aircraft within certain serial number ranges (Section 105.01). The main requirement outlined in this directive is the inspection and modification of the pilot and co-pilot chair locking mechanisms to ensure the locking pins engage fully in the seat tracks (Section 105.02). This requirement is to be performed in accordance with the "Accomplishment Instructions" section of Beech Service Bulletin 2444, Revision II, and any modifications must follow the maintenance manual specified in the same service bulletin. The directive mandates that these actions be undertaken within 150 hours of time in service after 19 June 1997 (Section 105.03).
The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this directive are stringent and specific. Operators of the affected Beechcraft 1900 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the inspection and modification of the chair locking mechanisms are carried out by qualified personnel. This includes not only the inspection but also any necessary modifications to ensure the locking mechanisms function correctly. The directive references FAA AD 97-06-06 Amdt 39-9963, indicating that the CASA directive aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration's requirements (Section 105.04). Operators must also ensure that all actions are completed within the specified timeframe to maintain compliance with the airworthiness directive.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this airworthiness directive can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspections and modifications are completed. Additionally, there could be significant legal and financial repercussions for operators who fail to adhere to the directive. The severity of the consequences underscores the importance of timely and accurate compliance with the requirements set forth by CASA (Section 105.05). While the specific penalties are not detailed in this directive, they could include fines, enforcement actions, or other civil or criminal penalties as prescribed by relevant aviation regulations.