AD/BEECH 300/3 - Engine Mount Assembly Attachment Bolts

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) established the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to regulate airworthiness and safety standards in civil aviation. Within this framework, Part 39 focuses on specific airworthiness directives, including AD/BEECH 300/3 concerning Beechcraft 300 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive, enacted in 1992, was introduced to address potential safety risks associated with engine mount assembly attachment bolts that might have been improperly heat-treated, potentially leading to structural integrity issues. The primary objective is to ensure that any affected bolts are identified and replaced, thereby mitigating the risk of in-flight failures. The AD/BEECH 300/3 requires operators to inspect each engine mount assembly attachment bolt individually to verify its manufacturer and compliance with specifications. If a bolt manufactured by Dumont Aviation is found, it must be replaced with a new bolt, part number MS20006-20/M. This directive mandates compliance within 150 hours of service time after 17 September 1992 and before further flight. The policy objective behind this regulation is to enhance the safety and reliability of aircraft operations by ensuring that critical components meet the required safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes directives for specific aircraft models such as the Beechcraft 300 Series Aeroplanes. This regulation applies to models and serial numbers as outlined in Beech SB 2432. It mandates a one-time inspection and replacement of engine mount assembly attachment bolts for the Beechcraft 300 Series, particularly those manufactured by Dumont Aviation. The directive requires that each bolt be individually inspected to determine its compliance with specified standards, with any non-compliant bolts replaced with a new bolt part number MS20006-20 /M/. Compliance must be achieved within 150 hours of service time after 17 September 1992 and before any further flight. This directive extends to the national jurisdiction of Australia, ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft within the country.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes detailed requirements for the airworthiness of Beechcraft 300 Series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the engine mount assembly attachment bolts. Section 10/92 of this regulation mandates a specific procedure for the inspection and possible replacement of these bolts. Section 1 of the requirement involves individually removing each engine truss-to-firewall bolt to determine if it was manufactured by Dumont Aviation, following the guidelines set out in Beech SB 2432. Section 2 requires the replacement of any such identified bolts with a new bolt of part number MS20006-20 /M/. The directive references FAA AD 92-15-01 Amdt 39-8294 for additional context. Entities governed by this regulation, primarily aircraft operators and maintenance providers, are obligated to conduct the specified inspections and replacements as detailed. Operators must ensure that the inspection and replacement of bolts are performed within 150 hours of the aeroplane’s time in service after 17 September 1992 and prior to any further flight. The maintenance provider or operator must strictly adhere to the procedure outlined in Section 1 and 2, ensuring only one bolt is removed at a time during inspection and that any identified bolts are replaced with the specified part number. Failure to comply with these directives can lead to serious safety implications and legal consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties within the text provided; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally results in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions could include fines, grounding of the aircraft, and potentially criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to an aviation accident or incident. The specific penalties would be determined by CASA in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.