AD/BEECH 200/59 - Pressurisation Control System Pneumatic Tubing Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through the legislative instrument F2006B03711, specifically address issues concerning the airworthiness of certain Beechcraft 200 series aeroplanes. This regulation was enacted to ensure the safety of passengers and crew by mandating regular inspections and maintenance of the pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing, following incidents where heat from foot warmers caused the tubing to soften and fail. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued this directive to mitigate the risk of injury due to compromised pressurisation systems. The regulation applies to Beechcraft 200 series aircraft with specified serial numbers, requiring inspections and re-routing of the pneumatic tubing in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. The policy objective is to maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft’s pressurisation systems, thereby preventing accidents and ensuring safe flight operations. This directive became effective on 29 January 1998, with compliance required at the next scheduled inspection, but no later than 200 hours of service time post the directive’s issuance.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that the Airworthiness Directives apply to all Beechcraft 200 series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers, including BB-114 through BB-1553, BL-1 through B-72, BL-124 through BL-140, BN-1 through BN-4, and BT-1 through BT-38. This requirement is pertinent to the pressurisation control system, mandating that the environmental air conditioning and pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing must be inspected and re-routed in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 2676 dated January 1997. This directive references FAA AD 97-23-17 Amdt 39-10207 and DGAC AD 97-353-(AB). The compliance must be observed unless the inspection and re-routing were previously performed during the next scheduled inspection, but in any case, it must be completed within the next 200 hours of time in service from the effective date of the directive, which is 29 January 1998. This directive was implemented due to an incident where a passenger was injured after being ejected from the aircraft onto the tarmac when a pilot requested a passenger to open the cabin door. The investigation revealed that heat from the co-pilot's foot warmer outlet and associated plumbing could soften the plastic pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing, leading to its permanent collapse under vacuum conditions and subsequent loss of vacuum to the outflow/safety valves, potentially preventing depressurisation of the aircraft and resulting in injuries to passengers and/or ground personnel. The de-icing indicator pneumatic tubing is also susceptible to heat damage from the co-pilot’s foot warmer, which could cause it to rupture, rendering the de-icing indicator inoperative.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain an airworthiness directive (AD) for Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) series aeroplanes, identified as AD/BEECH 200/59. This directive pertains to the pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing inspection (paragraph 2/98). The directive applies to all beech 200 series aircraft with specified serial numbers, ensuring that the inspection and re-routing of the environmental air conditioning and pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing is performed in accordance with the Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 2676 dated January 1997. The directive mandates that the specified inspections and re-routing of the pneumatic tubing must be completed at the next scheduled inspection, but no later than 200 hours of time in service from the effective date of this directive, which is 29 January 1998. This directive was prompted by an incident where a passenger was injured after being ejected from the aircraft when the cabin door was opened, due to heat from the co-pilot’s foot warmer outlet softening the plastic pressurisation control system pneumatic tubing. The directive also highlights the risk of the de-icing indicator pneumatic tubing rupturing, rendering the de-icing indicator inoperative. The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected Beechcraft 200 series aircraft. They are required to ensure that the pneumatic tubing inspection and re-routing are performed according to the specified service bulletin. This includes conducting the inspection at the next scheduled inspection or within 200 hours of the directive's effective date. Compliance with this directive is crucial to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and preventing potential injuries or operational issues resulting from tubing failure. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in this airworthiness directive may result in various consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance and may impose penalties for non-compliance. The severity of the penalties can depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but the overarching goal is to ensure that the aircraft are operated safely and in accordance with regulatory standards. Non-compliance may also result in the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed, which can have significant operational and financial implications for the aircraft operators.