AD/BEECH 55/80 Amdt 1 - Cabin Window Lower and Upper Longerons

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), addressing safety concerns across various aircraft types. The AD/BEECH 55/80 Amendment 1 pertains to Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) series aeroplanes, focusing on the cabin window lower and upper longerons. This amendment was enacted to address the problem of cracks in the longerons and missing rivets, which could lead to structural failure and loss of the aircraft. The compliance requirements mandate inspections and repairs within specific timeframes following the issuance of the directive, aiming to mitigate risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertaining to the Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) series aeroplanes, establishes mandatory safety directives for specific models. This regulation applies to the 58P and 58PA aircraft models with serial numbers detailed in Beechcraft (Beech) Service Bulletin (SB) 2630 or Raytheon SB 2691 Revision 1, which addresses the inclusion of additional serial numbers omitted from the original issue. The directive mandates inspections and reinforcement of the cabin window lower and upper longerons in accordance with the specified service bulletins, aimed at preventing structural cracking and ensuring the safety of the aircraft. Compliance with these directives is required within 100 hours of time in service after specific dates, ensuring that the safety measures are implemented in a timely manner. The scope of this regulation is limited to the specified aircraft models and serial numbers, and it does not extend to other types or models of aircraft. The regulation applies nationally across Australia, under the jurisdiction of CASA, and there are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the specified scope.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically AD/BEECH 55/80 Amendment 1, concerns the Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes, detailing the mandatory actions required to address cabin window longeron issues. The regulation applies to Models 58P and 58PA aircraft, specifically those with serial numbers listed in Beechcraft Service Bulletin (SB) 2630 or Raytheon SB 2691 Revision 1. The applicability is extended to include additional serial numbers, from TJ-2 through TJ-121, which were omitted from the initial issue of Raytheon SB 2691 and were subsequently added in Revision 1. The main requirements of the regulation are twofold. For aircraft applicable to Raytheon SB 2691 Revision 1, the regulation mandates that inspections and reinforcements must be carried out in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory SB 2691. For aircraft applicable to Beech SB 2630, the regulation requires that the cabin window upper longeron, specifically between the second and third right-hand cabin side windows, be inspected for cracks and missing rivets in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of Beech SB 2630. If cracks are detected in the upper longeron, they must be repaired following the instructions in Beech SB 2630. Similarly, if any rivets are found missing, they must be installed as per the Accomplishment Instructions section of Beech SB 2630. This directive is cross-referenced with FAA AD 97-09-09 Amendment 39-10005. Compliance with the regulation must be achieved within specific timeframes. The initial compliance period was within 100 hours’ time in service after 5 December 1996. A subsequent compliance period was set within 100 hours’ time in service after 9 October 1997, unless the required actions had already been completed. It is important to note that the compliance of the initial issue of this directive remains unchanged with regard to the first compliance period. The regulation imposes specific obligations on the parties and entities it governs. These include the requirement to conduct thorough inspections and necessary repairs on the specified aircraft models to ensure structural integrity. Failure to comply with these directives can result in significant safety risks, including potential structural failure of the fuselage and loss of the aircraft. The regulation’s background indicates that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had received reports of cracks in the upper and lower longeron near the second right-hand cabin window, as well as missing rivets, which necessitate these stringent measures to prevent catastrophic outcomes.