Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and serve to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring the safety and efficiency of air operations. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations, which includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, was introduced to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft by addressing safety issues through mandatory directives. One such directive, AD/BEECH 200/62, was enacted to address a specific safety concern identified with the Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes, namely the potential for flight control interference due to inadequate clearance or entanglement of electrical/avionics wiring. The objective of this directive is to mandate inspections and corrective actions to prevent such incidents, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. The directive became effective on 19 May 1999, requiring compliance within 25 hours of the aircraft being in service after this date and before further flight post-inspection.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, includes a schedule of Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with AD/BEECH 200/62 focusing on Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive mandates an inspection for potential interference or inadequate clearance between the flight control mechanism and components located forward of the instrument, particularly affecting aircraft within the specified serial numbers: BB-1551 through BB-1591, BB-1593 through BB-1622, and BB-1624 through BB-1627. The directive applies to these specific models and serial numbers, ensuring adherence to safety standards by inspecting and, if necessary, securing components to prevent any future incidents of restricted control column movement. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be completed within 25 hours of the aircraft being in service after 19 May 1999, and before further flight post-inspection. Any aircraft that has already undergone the procedures outlined in Raytheon Safety Communiqué No 149 or its revision are exempt from the requirement if those safety measures have been applied.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD/BEECH 200/62) related to Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes, which mandates inspections to prevent interference with wiring. Section 1 of the directive outlines the applicability, which covers certain model serial numbers of the B200 aircraft, specifically BB-1551 through BB-1591, BB-1593 through BB-1622, and BB-1624 through BB-1627. The directive applies to these aircraft unless specified inspections have already been performed. The primary requirement, detailed in section 2, is to inspect for any interference or inadequate clearance between the flight control mechanisms and components located forward of the instrument panel. This inspection must be conducted in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-3232 dated March 1999. If any interference or inadequate clearance is detected during this inspection, the directive stipulates that all components must be secured away from the flight control mechanisms, again following SB 27-3232. Notably, if Raytheon Safety Communiqué No 149 dated August 1998 or its revision dated November 1998 has been executed, no further action is necessary. Compliance with this directive is crucial. As outlined in section 3, the inspection must occur within 25 hours of time in service after 19 May 1999, and prior to further flight after the inspection. Non-compliance with this directive could lead to significant safety risks, as evidenced by a reported incident where a Raytheon Beech Model 1900 aeroplane experienced temporary loss of aileron and elevator control due to wiring entanglement in the flight control system. The directive, which becomes effective on 19 May 1999, imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the prescribed inspections and, if necessary, remedial actions are performed. Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in serious safety implications, and potentially severe consequences under aviation safety regulations. The directive references FAA AD 99-09-15, indicating that it aligns with or is in response to similar safety concerns and directives in other jurisdictions.