AD/BEECH 23/38 - Control Column Bearing Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of Airworthiness Directives, introduced AD/BEECH 23/38 to address issues with the control column bearing assemblies in Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft by addressing potential risks associated with the control column bearing assemblies, which could have been compromised if filed or ground in the weld area. The regulation applies to specific serial numbers of the models B19, C23, and C24R and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 31 May 1979. The policy objective behind this regulation is to mandate actions in accordance with Beechcraft Service Information No. 1017, thereby mitigating any safety hazards that may arise from the described issue.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as detailed in the schedule of airworthiness directives under Part 39 - 105, specifically addresses the maintenance and operation of certain Beechcraft aeroplanes. This legislation applies to specific model series, including all model B19 with serial numbers ranging from MB-866 to MB-904, all model C23 with serial numbers from M-1971, M-1980 to M-2076, and all model C24R with serial numbers from MC-533, MC-537 to MC-611. The directive mandates compliance with the action outlined in Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1017, which pertains to the control column bearing assemblies. The requirement is that these assemblies must be addressed within 100 hours of the aeroplanes' time in service after 31 May 1979. This directive ensures the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft models by rectifying potential issues identified by the manufacturer.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertain specifically to the Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 Series Aeroplanes (AD/BEECH 23/38). These sections outline the requirement for action concerning the control column bearing assemblies. According to section 39.105, all model B19 with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from MB-866 to MB-904, all model C23 with S/Nos. from M-1971, M-1980 to M-2076, and all model C24R with S/Nos. from MC-533, MC-537 to MC-611, must comply with the specified action in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1017. This compliance is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service following 31 May 1979. The obligations imposed by this regulation on the parties or entities it governs are straightforward. Aircraft owners or operators of the specified Beechcraft models must ensure that the control column bearing assemblies are inspected and, if necessary, replaced or repaired to meet the manufacturer's specifications detailed in Service Instruction No. 1017. This action must be completed within the stipulated timeframe of 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1979. Failure to comply with these requirements could lead to potential safety hazards and non-compliance with civil aviation standards. In terms of potential consequences for non-compliance, the legislation does not explicitly state the penalties for breaching these directives. However, under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in severe repercussions. These can include the issuance of enforcement notices, fines, or even prosecution, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to take enforcement actions to ensure that all aircraft meet the required standards.