AD/BEECH 35/20 Amdt 2 - Plastic Control Wheel

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, outlines safety directives to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. One such directive, AD/BEECH 35/20 Amendment 2, addresses a safety concern regarding the plastic control wheels in Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced to mitigate the risk associated with the non-reinforced plastic control wheels, which are prone to cracking over time, potentially leading to operational failures. The regulation mandates a visual inspection of these control wheels at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time to ensure they are free from cracks, with any defective wheels to be replaced, preferably with metal-reinforced types, before the aircraft is flown again. The objective of this directive is to maintain the safety standards of civil aviation by preventing the use of compromised control mechanisms. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, the policy objective behind these regulations is to ensure that all civil aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to protect passengers, crew, and the general public. The directive serves to enhance the operational reliability and safety of the Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes by providing clear guidelines for the inspection and replacement of control wheels, thus contributing to the overarching goal of maintaining the highest standards of airworthiness in the Australian civil aviation sector.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under the legislative instrument F2006B03823, outlines specific Airworthiness Directives applicable to aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia. In particular, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations addresses the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) series aeroplanes, focusing on the inspection and replacement of plastic control wheels. This directive applies to all models of the Beechcraft 35 series fitted with non-reinforced plastic control wheels, mandating that these components be visually inspected for any signs of cracking. Any control wheels exhibiting cracks must be replaced with a serviceable item before further flight, and it is recommended that the replacement should be of the metal reinforced type. Compliance with this directive requires that the inspection be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, ensuring ongoing safety and airworthiness standards are met. This regulation applies to all operators and owners of the specified aircraft within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which include detailed safety requirements for various aircraft types. In this context, AD/BEECH 35/20 Amendment 2 pertains to Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) series aeroplanes and addresses issues related to plastic control wheels (section 12/70). The directive applies to all models of this aircraft series equipped with non-reinforced plastic control wheels (section 12/70 Applicability). The primary requirement is to conduct a visual inspection of all such plastic control wheels to identify any cracking. If any cracks are found, the control wheels must be replaced with a serviceable item before the aircraft is flown again (section 12/70 Requirement). It is recommended that the replacement parts should be of the metal-reinforced type to enhance durability and safety (section 12/70 Requirement). Compliance with this directive involves regular inspections of the control wheels. According to the regulations, these inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. This ensures that any potential issues with the control wheels are identified and addressed promptly, thereby maintaining the aircraft’s airworthiness and safety standards (section 12/70 Compliance). Operators and maintenance personnel are responsible for adhering to these inspection schedules and replacing any cracked control wheels with appropriate serviceable items to meet the safety requirements stipulated in the directive. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/BEECH 35/20 Amendment 2 could result in serious safety implications. If an aircraft with cracked control wheels is operated without the required replacement, it may lead to in-flight failures, potentially compromising the ability to control the aircraft effectively. Such non-compliance can result in significant penalties. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), the maximum penalty for operating an aircraft in a manner that endangers safety is a fine of up to $165,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for individuals, and fines can be even higher for corporate entities (section 70 and 71). Additionally, CASA may impose further administrative penalties, including suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s certificate of airworthiness, which could halt operations until the required repairs and inspections are completed. Therefore, adherence to the airworthiness directive is crucial to avoid legal and safety repercussions.