AD/BEECH 23/42 - Engine Control Rod Safety Washers

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to provide a regulatory framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This part of the regulations is concerned with airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules that ensure aircraft meet safety standards. The legislative instrument F2006B03756, pertaining to Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 Series Aeroplanes, addresses a specific safety issue concerning engine control rod safety washers. This directive was introduced to mitigate potential risks associated with the engine control rods of specified Beechcraft models, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. The policy objective, as stated in the regulations, is to ensure that aircraft maintain the highest standards of airworthiness through timely compliance with safety directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The enactment of this directive by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority aims to ensure that aircraft owners and operators comply with the specified requirements within the stipulated timeframe. The directive is applicable to a range of Beechcraft models with specific serial numbers, mandating that an action be taken in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1243. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1983. This measure is crucial for preventing potential safety hazards related to the engine control rods, thereby protecting both the aircraft and its occupants.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BEECH 23/42 under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, governing the maintenance and operation of Beechcraft 19, 23, and 24 Series aeroplanes. This directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of these aircraft, mandating compliance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1243 to install safety washers on engine control rod ends. The directive is applicable to the models A23-19, 19A, M19A, B19, B19 Sport 150, A23, A23A, B23, C23, C23 Sundowner 180, A23-24, A24, A24R, B24R, and C24R Sierra 200, each identified by particular serial number ranges. The compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1983. The directive is a Commonwealth regulation, extending its jurisdictional reach across Australia, and applies to all entities operating these specific aircraft within the country. No exclusions or exemptions are specified in the text, and the directive may be further detailed or amended through subsequent subordinate instruments issued by CASA.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 – 105, specifically the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contains provisions that govern the maintenance and operation of certain aircraft models to ensure their continued airworthiness. One such directive is AD/BEECH 23/42 (paragraph 1), which mandates the installation of engine control rod safety washers on Beechcraft 19, 23 and 24 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to specific serial numbers of the models A23-19, 19A, M19A, B19, 23, A23, A23A, B23, C23, A23-24, A24, A24R, B24R, and C24R (paragraph 2). The requirement is for these aircraft to comply with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1243, which involves the installation of safety washers at the engine control rod ends to prevent potential mechanical failures (paragraph 3). The compliance deadline for this action is within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1983 (paragraph 4). The obligations imposed by this directive on the operators and owners of the specified aircraft are clear. They must ensure that the engine control rod safety washers are installed according to the manufacturer's instructions within the specified timeframe (paragraph 1). This involves taking the aircraft out of service if necessary to perform the required maintenance, and verifying that the safety washers have been correctly installed before returning the aircraft to service (paragraph 3). The directive also requires that operators maintain records of compliance, including the installation date and any relevant service bulletins or manufacturer instructions (paragraph 4). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, which would prevent it from being operated until the required maintenance is performed (paragraph 5). Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/BEECH 23/42 can lead to several consequences, both civil and potentially criminal. Civilly, an aircraft that does not comply with airworthiness directives may be subject to enforcement actions by CASA. This could include grounding of the aircraft, fines, and the requirement to perform the necessary maintenance before the aircraft can be returned to service (paragraph 1). In more serious cases, where non-compliance has led to an accident or incident, the operators or maintenance personnel could face criminal charges, including potential imprisonment (paragraph 2). The specific penalties for non-compliance are detailed in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, but can include fines of up to $165,294 for corporations and $33,058 for individuals, as well as potential imprisonment for up to two years (paragraph 3). Additionally, CASA has the authority to suspend or revoke pilot and aircraft maintenance licenses in cases of serious non-compliance (paragraph 4).