AD/BEECH 65/60 Amdt 1 - Ansair Passenger Seats

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, were introduced to provide comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation safety and operations within Australia. A specific legislative instrument under this act, F2006B04157, addresses the safety concerns associated with certain Beechcraft 65 and 70 (Queen Air) series aeroplanes. The problem this legislative instrument aims to resolve is the improper modification and installation of Ansair passenger seats, specifically models G381 and G396, which have been altered without appropriate design approval to fit the wing spar carry-through location. The objective is to ensure these aircraft maintain their airworthiness by adhering to the required safety standards, thus mitigating risks associated with structural integrity during flight. Compliance with these regulations is mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and must be achieved within 100 hours’ time in service after 31 March 1986, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after that date, whichever is later.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all operators and owners of Model 65 and 70 Beechcraft aircraft equipped with Ansair passenger seats. The regulation mandates that these aircraft must comply with airworthiness directives concerning the inspection and replacement of passenger seats over the wing spar carry-through location. This requirement is particularly pertinent to ensure that the seats bear the correct part number G417-00-001, as seats with different part numbers may not meet the necessary safety standards. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 31 March 1986, or at the next scheduled inspection, whichever is later. This directive underscores the importance of adhering to specified design approvals to maintain the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft, reflecting the overarching goal of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to uphold stringent safety standards in aviation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, contain several key provisions relating to the airworthiness directives for Beechcraft 65 and 70 (Queen Air) Series Aeroplanes. One of the main sections, AD/BEECH 65/60 Amendment 1, specifically pertains to Ansair Passenger Seats (section 1). This directive applies to all Model 65 and 70 aircraft equipped with Ansair passenger seats (section 2). The directive mandates that all seats over the wing spar carry-through location must be inspected to ensure they bear the correct part number, G417-00-001 (section 3(1)). Any seat assembly not bearing this part number must be replaced with an approved seat that is correctly identified with the part number G417-00-001 (section 3(2)). Compliance with these requirements must be achieved within 100 hours’ time in service after 31 March 1986, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 31 March 1986, whichever is later (section 3). The obligations imposed by this directive are significant for aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. Operators must ensure that all passenger seats over the wing spar carry-through location are inspected and, if necessary, replaced with seats bearing the correct part number. Maintenance personnel must carry out these inspections and replacements according to the specified timeframes. Failure to comply with these directives can result in non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations, potentially leading to safety risks and legal repercussions. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, failure to comply with an airworthiness directive can lead to serious consequences. Section 91.401 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 states that any person who contravenes an airworthiness directive commits an offence. Such offences can result in both civil and criminal penalties. The maximum penalty for an individual offender is a fine of up to $222,200 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. For corporate offenders, the maximum penalty is a fine of up to $1,111,000. These penalties underscore the importance of strict adherence to the airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of passengers and compliance with regulatory standards.