COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 19, 23 and 24 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 23/24 Acrobatic Manoeuvres - Placard 8/74
Applicability: Model B-19 with S/Nos.MB-481 to MB-634and MB-649 and Model C-23 with S/Nos. M-1285 to M-1493 except M-1437 and M-1491 - not fitted with spin improvement Kit No. 23-4007-1S.
Requirement: Remove all placards pertaining to intentional spins and acrobatic flight and replace with a placard, conspicuously located on the instrument panel, as follows :
“THIS AEROPLANE MUST BE OPERATED AS A NORMAL OR UTILITY CATEGORY AEROPLANE ONLY. INTENTIONAL SPINS ARE PROHIBITED. NO ACROBATIC MANOEUVRES APPROVED EXCEPT CHANDELLES, LAZY EIGHTS, STEEP TURNS AND STALLS (EXCEPT WHIP STALLS).”
Compliance: Before issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, encompass a comprehensive framework governing aviation safety within Australia. Specifically, Part 39, which includes AD/BEECH 23/24, was introduced to address safety concerns relating to the operation of certain Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Australian Government, the regulation aims to ensure these aircraft are operated strictly under normal or utility category parameters, prohibiting intentional spins and acrobatic manoeuvres except for specific approved actions such as chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns, and stalls (excluding whip stalls). This directive was implemented to mitigate risks associated with aerobatic activities and to enhance overall aviation safety by clearly defining permissible flight operations for these aircraft models. The regulation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring compliance through the requirement of a Certificate of Airworthiness, underscoring the authority’s commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, addresses the specific applicability and requirements for Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 series aeroplanes, particularly through Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning placards for acrobatic manoeuvres. This regulation applies specifically to Model B-19 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from MB-481 to MB-634 and MB-649, as well as Model C-23 aeroplanes with serial numbers from M-1285 to M-1493, excluding M-1437 and M-1491, unless they are equipped with a spin improvement kit No. 23-4007-1S. The directive mandates the removal of all placards that permit intentional spins and acrobatic flight, and requires the installation of a new placard that explicitly states the aeroplane must be operated as a normal or utility category aeroplane only, prohibiting intentional spins and certain acrobatic manoeuvres, except for specified limited actions such as chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns, and stalls (excluding whip stalls). Compliance with these directives is mandatory before the issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness. The regulation's scope is confined to the specified models and serial numbers, and its geographic reach applies nationally within Australia, ensuring the safety standards are uniformly enforced across all states and territories.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, include a specific section known as AD/BEECH 23/24, which pertains to the acrobatic manoeuvres placard for Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 series aeroplanes (Section 1). This regulation applies to Model B-19 with serial numbers MB-481 to MB-634 and MB-649, and Model C-23 with serial numbers M-1285 to M-1493, excluding M-1437 and M-1491, unless they are fitted with the spin improvement kit number 23-4007-1S (Section 2). The primary requirement of this regulation is the removal of all existing placards that reference intentional spins and acrobatic flight, to be replaced with a new placard that must be clearly visible on the instrument panel. The new placard must state: "THIS AEROPLANE MUST BE OPERATED AS A NORMAL OR UTILITY CATEGORY AEROPLANE ONLY. INTENTIONAL SPINS ARE PROHIBITED. NO ACROBATIC MANOEUVRES APPROVED EXCEPT CHANDELLES, LAZY EIGHTS, STEEP TURNS AND STALLS (EXCEPT WHIP STALLS)" (Section 3).
The obligations imposed by this regulation are significant and require adherence from all parties involved. Owners and operators of the specified Beechcraft aeroplanes must ensure that any existing placards related to intentional spins and acrobatic manoeuvres are removed and replaced with the new placard as mandated. This change must be made before any Certificate of Airworthiness is issued, underscoring the importance of compliance prior to the aeroplane being considered airworthy (Section 4). Furthermore, the regulation does not permit any deviation from the specified text and location of the placard, which means that any alteration or omission could result in non-compliance.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/BEECH 23/24 can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties within this specific section but violations of civil aviation regulations generally can lead to enforcement actions. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of operating certificates, and legal proceedings against the offending party. Given the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives, non-compliance could also have severe safety implications, potentially leading to accidents or incidents that could endanger lives (Section 5).