AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 55/90 KA-33 Cooling Blower 8/2001
Applicability: Beech Model 58 and 58A aeroplanes, serial numbers TH-1436 through TH-1883 inclusive.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the aeroplane in accordance with Part I of the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3267, issued March 1999, to verify whether a KA-33 avionics cooling blower system is installed and operating correctly.
2. If the Requirement 1 inspection confirms that a KA-33 cooling blower is fitted, install a one ampere circuit breaker, part number 7277-2-1, in place of the factory installed three ampere or five ampere circuit breakers in accordance with Part II of the Accomplishment Instructions of SB 34-3267.
3. Three ampere or five ampere circuit breakers must not be installed on any aeroplane to protect the KA-33 cooling blower.
Note: FAA AD 2001-11-03 Amdt 39-12244 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Within the next 600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this Directive or the next six calendar months after the effective date of this Directive, whichever occurs first.
For Requirement 2 - Before further flight after the Requirement 1 inspection. For Requirement 3 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 9 August 2001.
Background: The United States Federal Aviation Administration has received several reports of blower motors failing, seizing, smoking, and producing a burning odour that enters the cabin and passenger compartment. These events are the result of the blower motor having circuit protection of more than one ampere. This level of circuit protection does not prevent the blower motor from smoking and creating a burning odour should it fail or seize.
Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 55/90 (Continued)
This Directive introduces measures intended to protect the blower motor circuit and reduce the possibility of emission of smoke or a burning odour into the cockpit or passenger compartment.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 29 June 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 July 2001.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued on 8 August 2001 addresses safety concerns with the KA-33 cooling blower systems in Beechcraft Model 58 and 58A aeroplanes. This directive, numbered AD/BEECH 55/90, was issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by Eugene Paul Holzapfel, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The AD was introduced in response to reports of KA-33 cooling blower motors failing, seizing, smoking, and emitting a burning odour, which was attributed to the circuit protection being higher than one ampere. The directive aims to correct the unsafe condition by requiring inspections and modifications to the cooling blower systems to reduce the risk of smoke or burning odour entering the cockpit or passenger compartment.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Beech Model 58 and 58A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from TH-1436 to TH-1883 inclusive. The directive mandates certain actions to address identified safety concerns related to the KA-33 avionics cooling blower system. The requirement includes inspecting the aeroplane to verify the installation and correct operation of the KA-33 cooling blower system, as outlined in the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3267. If a KA-33 cooling blower is found to be installed, a one ampere circuit breaker must replace the existing three or five ampere circuit breakers, again following the instructions in the bulletin. The directive explicitly prohibits the use of three or five ampere circuit breakers to protect the KA-33 cooling blower. Compliance with the inspection and installation requirements must be achieved within 600 hours of time-in-service or six calendar months from the effective date of the directive, whichever is sooner, and before any further flight post inspection. The AD became effective on 9 August 2001 and is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BEECH 55/90 issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates specific actions to be taken on Beech Model 58 and 58A aeroplanes, serial numbers TH-1436 through TH-1883 inclusive, to address safety concerns related to the KA-33 avionics cooling blower system. According to section (a) of the requirement, these aeroplanes must be inspected in accordance with Part I of the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3267, issued March 1999, to confirm the installation and correct operation of the KA-33 cooling blower system. If the inspection confirms the presence of a KA-33 cooling blower, a one ampere circuit breaker, part number 7277-2-1, must be installed in place of the factory-installed three ampere or five ampere circuit breakers, as outlined in Part II of the Accomplishment Instructions of SB 34-3267. Furthermore, section (c) mandates that three ampere or five ampere circuit breakers must not be installed on any aeroplane to protect the KA-33 cooling blower.
The AD imposes several obligations on the operators of the affected aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that the inspection and installation of the one ampere circuit breaker are completed within the specified timeframes. For Requirement 1, the inspection must be carried out within the next 600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of the AD or within the next six calendar months, whichever comes first. Requirement 2 requires the installation of the one ampere circuit breaker before any further flight after the inspection. Requirement 3 mandates that three ampere or five ampere circuit breakers must not be installed on any aeroplane to protect the KA-33 cooling blower as of the effective date of the AD.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD may result in civil or criminal consequences. The AD specifies the timeframes within which the actions must be taken, and non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). While the AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, the broader Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for potential penalties, including fines and imprisonment for serious breaches of airworthiness regulations. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the non-compliance, as well as any associated risks to aviation safety.