AD/BEECH 55/55 - Fuel Drain Lines

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, form a crucial part of the legislative framework governing civil aviation safety within the country. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B03999, addresses specific safety concerns related to certain models of Beechcraft aeroplanes, namely the 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series. The regulation was introduced to ensure that these aircraft maintain their airworthiness by complying with particular safety directives, particularly focusing on the fuel drain lines of the specified models. The policy objective underpinning this regulation is to enhance aviation safety by mandating specific maintenance actions to prevent potential hazards associated with fuel system issues, thereby protecting the well-being of passengers and crew, as well as ensuring the integrity of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under the legislative instrument F2006B03999, specifically address the airworthiness of Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) series aeroplanes. The regulations apply to the identified models of these aircraft, namely the 58P and 58PA with serial numbers ranging from TJ-114 to TJ-160, and the 58TC and 58TCA with serial numbers from TK-54 to TK-79. This directive mandates that the specified aircraft must comply with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1006 concerning fuel drain lines, and this compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 30 November 1978. The regulation is enforceable across the Commonwealth of Australia and applies to any entity or individual operating these aircraft within the national airspace, ensuring that safety standards are uniformly adhered to throughout the country.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Airworthiness Directives, particularly AD/BEECH 55/55, address the critical safety issue concerning fuel drain lines in specific models of Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) series aeroplanes. According to section 10/78 of the AD, the directive applies to Beechcraft 58P and 58PA models with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from TJ-114 to TJ-160 and 58TC and 58TCA models with S/Nos. from TK-54 to TK-79 (section 10/78). The requirement outlined in this directive is for the action to be taken in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1006 (Beechcraft SI No. 1006). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours’ time in service after 30 November 1978. Entities governed by these regulations are obligated to ensure that the specified Beechcraft models undergo the necessary actions to address the fuel drain line issues as per the directive. This entails a thorough review and, if necessary, the modification or replacement of the fuel drain lines to meet the safety standards set by Beechcraft SI No. 1006. Such actions must be performed by appropriately certified personnel to guarantee that all modifications comply with the requirements outlined in the directive. The directive mandates that these compliance actions be logged and maintained as part of the aircraft’s maintenance records. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/BEECH 55/55 can lead to significant consequences. According to the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence. The potential penalties for breach of these regulations include substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. Specifically, under section 91 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, an individual may be liable for a fine of up to $275,000 for a serious breach, and in the case of a body corporate, the fine can reach up to $1,375,000. Additionally, there are implications for the airworthiness of the aircraft, which could result in the aircraft being grounded until the required actions are completed and verified by CASA.