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 23/26 Flight Manoeuvre Restriction - Placard 11/74
Applicability: Beechcraft 23 S/Nos. M1, M2, M4 through M554. Beechcraft A23-19 S/Nos. MB-1 through MB-288. Beechcraft 19A S/Nos. MB-289 through MB-460.
Requirement: Remove all placards pertaining to intentional spins and acrobatic flight and install a placard to be conspicuously located on the instrument panel as follows:
“This aeroplane must be operated as a normal or utility category aeroplane. Intentional spins prohibited. No acrobatic manoeuvres approved except, chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns and stalls (except whip stalls)”.
Note: This Directive does not apply to those aeroplanes incorporating Beech Spin Improvement Kit No. 23-4007-1 or 23-4007-5 or subsequent revisions. Fitment of these kits, or the approved equivalent will reinstate the acrobatic category for those aircraft originally approved in the acrobatic category, and intentional spinning in both utility and acrobatic categories.
Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 15 November 1974.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, form a comprehensive legal framework governing aviation safety and operations within Australia. This legislation was introduced to ensure the safety of air travel by setting standards and requirements for the operation of aircraft and the qualifications of aviation personnel. Among the various parts and regulations outlined within the Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 39 specifically addresses airworthiness directives and safety measures. One such directive, AD/BEECH 23/26, focuses on Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 series aeroplanes, mandating specific placard requirements to restrict flight manoeuvres. The objective is to ensure compliance with operational safety standards by prohibiting intentional spins and acrobatic manoeuvres, except for certain approved actions. The directive aims to maintain safety by restricting certain high-risk flight activities, thereby minimising the potential for accidents and ensuring that these aircraft are operated within designated categories.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 23/26 applies specifically to certain Beechcraft 23, 19, and A23-19 series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers as detailed in the legislation. This directive mandates the removal of all placards that permit intentional spins and acrobatic flight, and the installation of a new placard indicating that the aeroplane must be operated as a normal or utility category aeroplane, prohibiting intentional spins and restricting acrobatic manoeuvres to specific approved actions. Notably, this directive does not apply to aeroplanes that have the Beech Spin Improvement Kit No. 23-4007-1 or 23-4007-5 or subsequent revisions installed, as the fitment of these kits reinstates the acrobatic category for those aircraft originally approved in that category and allows intentional spinning in both utility and acrobatic categories. Compliance with this directive is required within 25 hours of time in service after 15 November 1974. The directive is an instrument under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and its application is overseen by the Commonwealth of Australia, thus extending its jurisdictional reach across the national airspace.
Key Provisions
The key operative section of this legislation is AD/BEECH 23/26 (Part 39 - 105), which applies specifically to Beechcraft 23, 19, and 24 series aeroplanes. This section mandates the removal of all placards that refer to intentional spins and acrobatic flight and requires the installation of a new placard on the instrument panel. The new placard must clearly state that the aeroplane must be operated as a normal or utility category aeroplane, prohibiting intentional spins, with specific exceptions for approved acrobatic manoeuvres such as chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns, and stalls (excluding whip stalls). It is important to note that this directive does not apply to aeroplanes that have been fitted with specific Beech Spin Improvement Kits or their approved equivalents, which would allow for reinstatement of acrobatic category approvals and intentional spinning in both utility and acrobatic categories.
The obligations imposed by this Act are primarily on the operators and owners of the specified Beechcraft aeroplanes. They must ensure that all placards related to intentional spins and acrobatic flight are removed and replaced with the new placard as specified within 25 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 15 November 1974. Operators and owners must be diligent in verifying the serial numbers of their aeroplanes to determine if they fall under the applicability of this directive. Those aeroplanes equipped with the specified Beech Spin Improvement Kits must maintain their acrobatic category approvals and adhere to the associated regulations.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this directive may result in serious consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of Civil Aviation Regulations could result in significant penalties under Australian aviation law. Such penalties could include fines, suspension or revocation of the aeroplane's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to unsafe flight conditions. Operators and owners must therefore take the directive seriously to avoid any adverse legal and safety repercussions.