Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation in the country. In particular, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations, which deals with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses specific safety concerns and mandates corrective actions to be taken on particular aircraft to mitigate identified risks. The Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 55/93, issued in 2002, is an example of such a measure. This directive was introduced to address an unsafe condition identified in Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes, specifically the Model 58P aircraft with serial numbers TJ-3 through TJ-497, where the exterior door operating instructions were found to be either not visible or not easily understood, leading to potential safety hazards. The directive requires the installation of a placard in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 11-3404, issued in June 2001, within 100 hours' time in service or 12 calendar months after 5 September 2002, whichever occurs first. This action was taken to ensure the safe operation of the affected aircraft, aligning with CASA's policy objective of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies specifically to Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes with the Model 58P aircraft serial numbers ranging from TJ-3 to TJ-497. The directive mandates a modification to the exterior door operating procedures by requiring the installation of a placard in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 11-3404, issued in June 2001. This action is prompted by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) determination that the instructions for opening the exit doors on these aircraft are either not visible or not easily understood, a conclusion drawn from an accident involving a similar type design aircraft. The directive became effective on 5 September 2002, and the required modification must be completed within 100 hours’ time in service or 12 calendar months after the directive's issuance, whichever comes first, unless the modification has already been carried out.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) mandates specific actions to address identified safety concerns in certain aircraft models. Section 39.1(1) of CAR 1998 allows for the issuance of such directives to correct unsafe conditions. In this instance, AD/BEECH 55/93 targets the Beechcraft 55, 58, and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes, specifically model 58P aircraft with serial numbers ranging from TJ-3 to TJ-497. The directive requires the installation of a placard to modify exterior door operating procedures, following the Accomplishment Instructions provided in Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 11-3404, issued in June 2001. The AD imposes clear obligations on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the specified modifications to the exterior door operating procedures are completed in accordance with the instructions provided. This involves installing a placard as outlined in the referenced service bulletin. The compliance period is set within 100 hours’ time in service or 12 calendar months from the AD's effective date of 5 September 2002, whichever comes first. Operators and owners are required to verify that these modifications are carried out before exceeding the compliance period. Failure to comply with the AD can lead to significant consequences. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the directive itself, under CAR 1998, non-compliance with an AD can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to safety incidents or accidents. The severity of the penalties may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resulting safety risks or incidents.