COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 55/57 Fuselage Bulkheads FS 257.6 & FS 271.92 3/79
Applicability: All models 95-55, 95-A55, 95-B55 and 95-B55A with S/Nos. TC-1 to TC-349 and TC-351 to TC-2124.
All model 95-B55B with S/Nos. TF-1 to TF-70.
All models 95-C55, 95-C55A, D55, D55A, E55 and E55A with S/Nos. TC-350 and TE-1 to TE-1124.
All models 58 and 58A with S/Nos. TH-1 to TH-908. All models 58P and 58PA with S/Nos. TJ-2 to TJ-141. All models 58TC to 58TCA with S/Nos. TK-1 to TK-68.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SI No. 0990.
Compliance: Initially inspect within 100 hours’ time in service after 30 April 1979 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service or 1 year, whichever occurs first.
Background: Cracks may develop in the subject bulkheads in the areas of the horizontal stabiliser attachments.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One particular legislative instrument, F2006B04001, pertains to Airworthiness Directives for specific aircraft models, namely the Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes. This directive addresses potential safety issues identified in the fuselage bulkheads of these aircraft, particularly around the horizontal stabiliser attachments, which may develop cracks over time. The policy objective of this regulation is to mandate regular inspections to ensure that these structural components remain safe and operational, thereby mitigating any potential risk to flight safety.
The directive specifically targets certain serial numbers and models, requiring an initial inspection within 100 hours of service after a specified date and subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 500 hours or one year, whichever comes first. This proactive approach is intended to maintain the integrity of the aircraft's structure and ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives concerning Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on fuselage bulkheads FS 257.6 and FS 271.92. This regulation applies to a specific range of serial numbers for various models, including 95-55, 95-A55, 95-B55, 95-B55A, 95-C55, 95-C55A, D55, D55A, E55, E55A, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, and 58TCA. Compliance is mandatory for aircraft within the specified serial number ranges, ensuring that these aircraft meet the required safety standards. The directive requires an initial inspection within 100 hours of service after 30 April 1979, followed by inspections at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of service or 1 year, whichever comes first. The regulation's purpose is to address the potential development of cracks in the fuselage bulkheads near the horizontal stabiliser attachments, ensuring continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in question.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of this regulation (AD/BEECH 55/57) relate to the airworthiness directives for Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes, specifically concerning fuselage bulkheads FS 257.6 and FS 271.92 (paragraphs 1–2). The regulation applies to a specified range of serial numbers across various models of these aircraft (paragraph 3). The requirement is for actions to be taken in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction (SI) No. 0990 (paragraph 4). The compliance mandate is that an initial inspection must occur within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1979, and subsequent inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service or 1 year, whichever comes first (paragraph 5).
The regulation imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. Owners and operators of the specified Beechcraft aeroplanes must ensure that the initial inspection is conducted within the prescribed timeframe and that all subsequent inspections are performed at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of service or 1 year (paragraphs 4–5). Additionally, they must adhere to the specific actions detailed in Beechcraft SI No. 0990 to address any issues identified during inspections (paragraph 4).
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, although the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties for breaching these airworthiness directives within this legislative instrument, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of an aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and other regulatory measures. Additionally, operators may face legal liabilities if an aircraft operated in a non-compliant state results in an incident or accident. The exact penalties for breaches can vary based on the severity and nature of the non-compliance, as well as other relevant factors assessed by CASA.