AD/BEECH 60/44 - Cabin Heat Electrical Wiring

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, includes the Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 60/44 concerning the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes. Enacted to address safety concerns identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding cabin heat electrical wiring, this directive aims to mitigate risks of overheating and potential fire hazards in affected aircraft. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure the continued safety of air travel by mandating specific modifications to the electrical wiring of the cabin heat control systems in Beech Model 60 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from P-159 to P-596. Compliance with this directive is required within 25 hours of the aircraft being in service after the directive's effective date of 3 March 1999.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from P-159 to P-596. This regulation mandates modifications to the cabin heat control electrical wiring of these aircraft, as outlined in the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3097 issued in December 1998. This requirement is aimed at preventing overheating of the cabin heater electrical control circuits, which could potentially lead to smoke and fire, as evidenced by an incident reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The directive mandates compliance within 25 hours’ time in service after the effective date of 3 March 1999. The scope of this directive is confined to the specified Beechcraft 60 series aeroplanes, and it does not extend to other aircraft models or types. The directive is issued under Commonwealth authority, thereby encompassing the entire national airspace and applying uniformly across state and territory boundaries.

Key Provisions

The key provision of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) is outlined in Section 1, which mandates the modification of the cabin heat electrical wiring on specified Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series aeroplanes. Specifically, Section 1 requires the modification to be carried out in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3097 issued in December 1998. The directive applies to Beech Model 60 aeroplanes with serial numbers P-159 through P-596. The purpose of this modification is to prevent overheating of the cabin heater electrical control circuits, which could result in smoke and/or fire. This modification is necessary to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Section 2 of the AD sets out the compliance requirements for the modification. The modification must be completed within 25 hours’ time in service after the effective date of the Directive, which is 3 March 1999. The AD references FAA AD 99-03-11 Amdt 39-11024, which provides further guidance on the modification. The AD also includes a note that the modification is intended to address an incident where the cabin heater electrical control circuits overheated in flight and caused the cabin heater to shut down. Section 3 of the AD outlines the obligations and requirements imposed on the parties or entities governed by the AD. The AD applies to owners and operators of Beech Model 60 aeroplanes with serial numbers P-159 through P-596. These individuals or entities are required to ensure that the modification is carried out in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3097 and within the specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy and subject to grounding. Section 4 of the AD sets out the potential consequences for non-compliance with the AD. While the AD itself does not explicitly state any penalties or consequences for non-compliance, failure to comply with an AD can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), non-compliance with an AD can result in fines of up to $1.65 million for individuals and $8.25 million for corporations, as well as potential imprisonment. Additionally, non-compliance with an AD can result in the grounding of the aircraft, which can have significant financial and operational consequences for the owner or operator. It is therefore essential that owners and operators of affected aircraft take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the AD.