COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 60/43 Outflow/Safety Valve 3/98
Applicability: All 60 and A60 aircraft serial numbers P-3 through P-246 with Kit No 60-5024-1 S incorporated, Duke B-60 aircraft serial number P-247 through P-307 with Kit No 60- 5024-3 S incorporated and Duke B-60 serial numbers P-308 through P-596.
Requirement: Inspect and if necessary replace the outflow/safety valve in accordance with the procedures detailed in Beech SB 2484 Rev 1 dated October 1995.
No person shall install on any aircraft any Outflow/Safety Valve found to be unserviceable in accordance with this directive.
Note: FAA AD 97-25-01 Amdt 39-10224 refers.
Compliance: Within 200 hours’ time in service or 4 months, whichever occurs first, from the effective date of this directive.
This airworthiness directive becomes effective on the 26 February 1998.
Background: Manufacturing problems with the safety valve may cause a rapid decompression of the aircraft should a valve failure occur.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. This particular legislative instrument, AD/BEECH 60/43, targets the specific issue of manufacturing defects in the outflow/safety valves of certain Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes, which could potentially lead to rapid decompression if a valve failure occurs. The directive mandates inspection and replacement of the outflow/safety valve for specified serial numbers and kit versions, with compliance required within 200 hours’ time in service or four months from the directive's effective date of 26 February 1998. The policy objective is to mitigate the risk of aircraft accidents caused by valve failures, ensuring continued airworthiness and passenger safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety directives concerning the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the outflow/safety valve. This regulation applies to all Beechcraft 60 and A60 aircraft within specified serial numbers and kit numbers, ensuring the safety of these aircraft through mandated inspections and, if necessary, replacements of the outflow/safety valve. Compliance with the procedures outlined in Beech SB 2484 Rev 1 dated October 1995 is mandatory, and any person found to be installing an unserviceable outflow/safety valve on an aircraft will be in violation of this directive. The directive stipulates that the required inspections and necessary replacements must be completed within 200 hours of the aircraft's time in service or within four months from the directive's effective date of 26 February 1998, whichever comes first. The directive is in response to manufacturing issues that may lead to rapid decompression of the aircraft in the event of a valve failure, thus underscoring the importance of adhering to the specified safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) include specific airworthiness directives for the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes. The directive AD/BEECH 60/43 (3/98) mandates that the outflow/safety valve on specified aircraft models must be inspected and, if necessary, replaced in accordance with the procedures detailed in Beech SB 2484 Rev 1 dated October 1995. This directive applies to aircraft with specific serial numbers and kit numbers, including all 60 and A60 aircraft serial numbers P-3 through P-246 with Kit No 60-5024-1 S incorporated, Duke B-60 aircraft serial numbers P-247 through P-307 with Kit No 60-5024-3 S incorporated, and Duke B-60 serial numbers P-308 through P-596.
The obligations under this directive require operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the outflow/safety valves are inspected and replaced as needed. This process must be completed within 200 hours of time in service or four months from the effective date of the directive, whichever occurs first. Furthermore, it is explicitly stated that no person shall install any outflow/safety valve found to be unserviceable in accordance with this directive. This requirement is critical to maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft, given the potential for rapid decompression due to manufacturing problems with the safety valve.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can lead to severe consequences. The regulations prohibit the installation of unserviceable outflow/safety valves, which may result in enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. In the event of non-compliance, the operator could face substantial penalties. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive, breaches of airworthiness regulations can lead to fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made.
In summary, AD/BEECH 60/43 (3/98) outlines clear requirements for inspecting and replacing outflow/safety valves on specific Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes to prevent rapid decompression and ensure safe operation. The directive imposes stringent compliance deadlines and strict prohibitions on the use of unserviceable components. Failure to adhere to these provisions can result in significant penalties, highlighting the importance of strict compliance with airworthiness directives to maintain aviation safety standards.