AD/BEECH 60/17 - Flap Bracket

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address safety concerns related to Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, the Regulations were designed to fill a gap in ensuring that civil aircraft meet stringent safety standards, thus protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry. The policy objective behind AD/BEECH 60/17 is to mandate regular inspections of the flap actuator bracket and adjacent structure on both the right and left flaps of these aircraft to prevent structural failure and ensure continued airworthiness. This directive applies to all models that have accumulated 1000 or more hours of time in service and requires inspections to be conducted within 100 hours after a specified date and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety of aircraft through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. This legislative instrument pertains to Beechcraft 60 (Duke) series aeroplanes and mandates the inspection of the flap actuator bracket and adjacent structure on both the right and left flaps for any cracks or signs of distress. The directive applies to all models of the Beechcraft 60 series that have accumulated 1000 or more hours of time in service. Compliance with this directive requires that inspections be conducted within 100 hours of time in service following 31 August 1972 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. This regulation underscores the commitment to ensuring the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft within the Australian aviation sector.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish the framework for airworthiness directives which mandate certain actions to ensure the safety of aircraft. One such directive, AD/BEECH 60/17, focuses on the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes (section 1). This directive applies to all models of these aircraft that have accumulated 1000 or more hours of time in service (section 2). The main requirement of this directive is to inspect the flap actuator bracket and the adjacent structure on both the right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) flaps for any cracks or signs of distress (section 3). The obligations imposed by AD/BEECH 60/17 are straightforward yet critical. Aircraft operators must ensure that the initial inspection is conducted within 100 hours of time in service following 31 August 1972. Subsequently, these inspections must be carried out at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service (section 4). This directive necessitates that the inspections are performed meticulously to identify any structural weaknesses or damage that could compromise the safety of the aircraft during operation. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/BEECH 60/17 can lead to significant consequences. While the specific legal consequences are not detailed within the excerpt, it is clear that non-compliance with airworthiness directives is taken very seriously under aviation law. Typically, such breaches could result in penalties, enforcement actions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed. The exact penalties and consequences would depend on the specific circumstances and any additional regulations that might apply. Nonetheless, the directive underscores the importance of maintaining the structural integrity of critical components such as the flap actuator bracket to ensure safe aviation operations.