COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 400 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 400/14 Flightcrew Seats 5/96
Applicability: Model 400 S/N RJ-1 to RJ-65, and Model 400A S/N RK-1 to RK-93. Requirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SB 2536 Rev. 1.
Note: FAA AD 96-03-07 refers.
Compliance: Within 200 hours time in service after 25 April 1996.
Background: This Directive is issued to prevent reduced aircraft controllability in flight due to inadvertent uncontrolled seat movement.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, are fundamental in ensuring the safety and regulation of civil aviation activities within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations addresses Airworthiness Directives, with AD/BEECH 400/14 focusing on the flightcrew seats of Beechcraft 400 Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of reduced aircraft controllability due to inadvertent uncontrolled seat movement, thereby enhancing flight safety. The policy objective is to ensure that the required actions are undertaken to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft, thus safeguarding the lives of those on board and the general public. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 200 hours of time in service after 25 April 1996, aligning with industry standards and enhancing overall aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the legislative instrument F2006B03916, specifically addresses the airworthiness of Beechcraft 400 Series aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 400/14. This legislation applies to the specific models and serial numbers of the Beechcraft 400 and 400A aeroplanes, namely Model 400 with serial numbers RJ-1 to RJ-65, and Model 400A with serial numbers RK-1 to RK-93. The directive mandates compliance with Beechcraft Service Bulletin 2536 Revision 1, and references FAA AD 96-03-07, underscoring its alignment with international standards. The requirement necessitates corrective action within 200 hours of time in service following 25 April 1996, aimed at preventing incidents of reduced aircraft controllability due to inadvertent seat movement. The directive is issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, thereby extending its application throughout Australia, ensuring a uniform standard of safety across all applicable aircraft within the specified parameters.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, require adherence to Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). For the Beechcraft 400 Series Aeroplanes, AD/BEECH 400/14 mandates that operators of Model 400 S/N RJ-1 to RJ-65, and Model 400A S/N RK-1 to RK-93, must follow the action specified in Beechcraft Service Bulletin (SB) 2536 Revision 1 to ensure flightcrew seats remain secure and do not cause inadvertent uncontrolled seat movement, which could compromise aircraft controllability in flight (section 39-105). This directive aligns with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 96-03-07.
Operators of the affected aircraft must comply with the directive within 200 hours of time in service after 25 April 1996, as stated in the regulation. Compliance involves implementing the measures detailed in the referenced Beechcraft SB 2536 Rev. 1, which likely includes specific maintenance actions, inspections, and potential modifications to the flightcrew seats to ensure they meet the required safety standards (section 39-105). Failure to comply within the specified timeframe could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thus rendering it unfit for operation.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives can lead to significant legal and operational consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the specified compliance timeframe may face enforcement actions from CASA, which can include fines, penalties, and potential grounding of the aircraft. Additionally, non-compliance can result in civil liability for any incidents that occur due to the failure to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition (section 39-105). The maximum penalties for such breaches can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment for individuals found criminally liable.
In summary, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, impose strict requirements on operators of Beechcraft 400 Series Aeroplanes to ensure the flightcrew seats are maintained in accordance with the specified Airworthiness Directive. The directive mandates adherence to the instructions provided in Beechcraft SB 2536 Rev. 1 within 200 hours of time in service after 25 April 1996. Non-compliance with these requirements can result in serious civil and criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment.