AD/BEECH 50/30 - Engine Emergency Placard

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by AD/BEECH 50/30, was enacted to address the problem of illegible or missing emergency engine shutdown procedure placards on Beechcraft 50 (Twin Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes. The instrument was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aiming to enhance flight safety by ensuring pilots have clear and legible access to critical emergency procedures. The policy objective is to maintain airworthiness standards by providing a durable and easily readable placard, as per a requirement recently adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This amendment mandates the inspection and replacement of any defaced or missing placards with a new one that adheres to specified dimensions and content, ensuring that pilots can quickly reference the emergency engine shutdown procedures during critical situations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandate the inspection and replacement of emergency engine shutdown procedure placards for Beechcraft 50 (Twin Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all models of the Beechcraft 50 series and requires the inspection of the emergency engine shutdown procedure placard on the overhead or instrument panel for legibility and condition. If the placard is found to be defaced or missing, it must be replaced with a new placard fabricated using letters of 3mm height, affixed to either the overhead or instrument panel. The new placard must contain the specified emergency engine shutdown procedures. This directive extends to all operators of the Beechcraft 50 series aeroplanes and must be complied with within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1979. This directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and aims to ensure that emergency procedures are clearly and legibly displayed to enhance flight safety.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (AD/BEECH 50/30), mandates the inspection and replacement of the emergency engine shutdown procedure placard for all Beechcraft 50 (Twin Bonanza) series aeroplanes. This directive applies universally to all models of the aircraft (Section 9/79). The requirement is straightforward: the placard must be inspected for legibility and condition, and if it is defaced or missing, it must be replaced with a new one. The new placard must adhere to specific design criteria, including the use of 3mm height letters, and must be affixed to either the overhead or instrument panel (Section 9/79). The content of the placard must include a detailed emergency engine shutdown procedure, specifying steps such as setting the mixture to idle cut-off, turning the fuel selector off, locking the oil shut-off handle up, feathering the propeller control, opening the throttle fully, turning off both boost pumps, switching the magneto off, and turning off the alternator/generator switch. The obligations imposed by this legislation are clear. Operators of the Beechcraft 50 series aeroplanes are required to ensure that the emergency engine shutdown procedure placard is not only present but also legible and in good condition. This involves periodic inspections and immediate replacement if the current placard is found to be defaced or missing. The new placard must meet the specified design requirements to ensure that it is durable and clearly visible to the crew during an emergency. Failure to comply with these requirements could lead to serious safety issues during an emergency, potentially resulting in catastrophic outcomes. In terms of compliance, the regulations stipulate that this inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the placard must be completed within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1979. This timeline provides operators with a specific window in which to ensure their aircraft are compliant with this safety directive. Non-compliance with these requirements can have significant consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the text of this legislation, failure to adhere to airworthiness directives generally can result in severe penalties, including fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to an accident or incident.