AD/BEECH 300/12 - Elevator Trim Tab System

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, were introduced to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. One specific aspect of these regulations, the "Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives", addresses issues related to the airworthiness of various aircraft, including the Beechcraft 300 Series Aeroplanes. The AD/BEECH 300/12 directive, effective from 25 March 1999, targets the elevator trim tab system for certain models and serial numbers of Beechcraft 300 and 300C aeroplanes. The directive was implemented to address a problem identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of ice forming on the elevator trim tab actuators, which could lead to jamming of the trim tab control, posing a safety risk. Compliance with the directive is mandatory and must be achieved within 200 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the airworthiness directives that apply to the aviation industry within Australia. The legislation mandates modifications to specific models of Beechcraft 300 series aeroplanes to address issues related to the elevator trim tab system. The directive applies to Beechcraft 300 model aircraft with serial numbers FL-1 through FL-23, FL-25 through FL-134, FL-136, and FL-137, and Beechcraft 300C model aircraft with serial numbers FM-1 through FM-9, and FN-1. The directive requires modifications to the elevator trim tab system in accordance with the specified Raytheon Kit Part Numbers, ensuring compliance with the installation instructions provided in the referenced Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin. Compliance must be achieved within 200 hours of the aircraft being in service after 25 March 1999, following the directive's effective date. This legislation ensures that the identified aircraft meet the required safety standards, preventing potential issues caused by ice formation on the elevator trim tab actuators that could lead to jamming of the trim tab control.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, contain specific airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the Beechcraft 300 Series aeroplanes. The regulation AD/BEECH 300/12 focuses on the elevator trim tab system for certain models and serial numbers of the Beechcraft 300 series (Section 1). These models include the B300 series, serial numbers FL-1 through FL-23, FL-25 through FL-134, FL-136, and FL-137, and the B300C series, serial numbers FM-1 through FM-9, and FN-1 (Section 1). The primary requirement is to modify the elevator trim tab system in accordance with the Installation Instructions provided in Raytheon Kit Part Numbers 130-5011-3 or 130-5011-9, which include the Beech Aircraft Corporation Drawing 130-5011, Revision E, dated March 21, 1996 (Section 2). These instructions are referenced in the Compliance section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 2620, issued in November 1996 (Section 3). The materials section in Raytheon MSB 2620 specifies which aircraft models and serial numbers are affected by the various parts of the Accomplishment Instructions (Section 4). Operators of the affected Beechcraft 300 Series aeroplanes are required to comply with the modifications specified in the Airworthiness Directive. Specifically, the modification must be completed within 200 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of March 25, 1999 (Section 5). This directive is critical to address reported issues of ice forming on the elevator trim tab actuators, which can lead to jamming of the trim tab control. The modification involves incorporating a new elevator trim tab actuator assembly kit, replacing the elevator trim tab pushrod assembly, or modifying the elevator spar opening, depending on the specific aircraft model and serial number (Section 6). Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in the aircraft not meeting the necessary safety standards. The directive is grounded in the necessity to prevent potential safety hazards related to the elevator trim tab system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued AD 99-02-16 Amdt 39-11008, which refers to this directive, underscoring the importance of the required modifications (Section 7). The consequences for non-compliance with this Airworthiness Directive can be severe. The directive itself does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but the implications of operating an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness standards can include grounding of the aircraft, potential fines, and other legal repercussions. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance and may take action against operators who fail to adhere to the mandated modifications (Section 8). The safety of flight operations is paramount, and any deviation from the stipulated requirements could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.