AD/BEECH 60/9 - Inboard Elevator Hinge Bracket

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, is a comprehensive set of regulations designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australian airspace. One specific aspect of these regulations is Part 39, which includes various Airworthiness Directives aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of different aircraft types. AD/BEECH 60/9, introduced to address safety concerns related to inboard elevator hinge brackets in the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes, is an example of such directives. This particular directive applies to Models 60 and A60 with serial numbers ranging from P-3 to P-151 that have accumulated more than 150 hours of time in service. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate actions in accordance with Beechcraft Service Information No. 0342-132, with reference to the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 70-22-3, to ensure compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 December 1970. This directive underscores the commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards in civil aviation through precise and timely regulatory measures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes, including models 60 and A60, with serial numbers P-3 to P-151 that have accumulated more than 150 hours of time in service. This regulation necessitates compliance with the action outlined in Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 0342-132 and references the Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 70-22-3. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 31 December 1970. The regulation's jurisdictional reach is Commonwealth-wide, enforcing compliance across all of Australia, and there are no stated exclusions or exemptions in this directive, implying that all affected aircraft must adhere to the specified requirements. Subordinate instruments may extend or restrict the application of this directive, but the primary focus remains on ensuring the airworthiness of the specified aircraft models.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, contain specific airworthiness directives that mandate compliance for certain aircraft. One such directive, AD/BEECH 60/9, pertains to the Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to models 60 and A60 with serial numbers P-3 to P-151 that have accrued more than 150 hours of time in service (Section 39 - 105). The requirement outlined in this directive is that the action must be taken in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction (SI) No. 0342-132. For reference, this directive correlates with the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 70-22-3. Compliance with this directive is mandated within 100 hours of time in service following 31 December 1970. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations on the entities governed by these directives. Aircraft operators must ensure that their Beechcraft 60 (Duke) Series Aeroplanes, specifically those within the specified serial number range and service hour threshold, adhere to the technical action detailed in Beech SI No. 0342-132. This action is crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft, ensuring safety standards are met, and preventing potential hazards that could arise from the inboard elevator hinge bracket. Operators must meticulously track the service hours of their aircraft to determine when the compliance window opens and ensure timely implementation of the required actions. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations can result in significant legal and financial consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary actions are completed, thereby affecting operational readiness and potentially incurring substantial costs. Additionally, there may be enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including the imposition of fines or other penalties. The exact penalties are not specified within this directive but could be significant under broader civil aviation legislation, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to airworthiness standards.