COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 76 (Duchess) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 76/16
Amdt 1
Applicability: All models.
MLG Side Brace Overcentre Travel and Limit Switch
4/87
Requirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SB No 2081.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, prior to the issue of the next Maintenance Release after 9 April 1987.
Note: Previous compliance with superseded Beechcraft SI 1092 does not constitute compliance for the downlock limit switch adjustment but does comply with the requirement to check MLG side brace overcentre travel.
Background: This amendment is raised to extend compliance to all Beechcraft 76 aircraft. Inadvertent retractions of the MLG have occurred due to the MLG side brace overcentre travel and limit switch being out of adjustment. Aircraft listed in SB No 2081 and later serial number aircraft were affected.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B04174, address safety concerns specific to Beechcraft 76 (Duchess) series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Australian Government, the regulation seeks to rectify issues related to the inadvertent retraction of the main landing gear (MLG) caused by improper adjustment of the MLG side brace overcentre travel and limit switch. This was identified as a critical safety concern that needed immediate attention to prevent accidents. The policy objective of the regulation is to ensure all Beechcraft 76 aircraft comply with the specified maintenance requirements, thereby enhancing aviation safety and reducing the risk of MLG-related incidents.
The regulation mandates that all Beechcraft 76 models must adhere to the maintenance actions outlined in Beechcraft Service Bulletin No 2081, with compliance required before the next maintenance release after 9 April 1987. Notably, previous compliance with the superseded Service Instruction No 1092 does not fully satisfy the current requirement, particularly concerning the downlock limit switch adjustment, although it does meet the requirement for checking the MLG side brace overcentre travel. This directive is a direct response to the identified safety gap and aims to standardise compliance across the fleet to ensure uniform safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, which applies to all types of aircraft operating within Australia, including the Beechcraft 76 (Duchess) series aeroplanes. The regulations mandate adherence to certain safety standards to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft, with AD/BEECH 76/16 Amendment 1 focusing on the MLG Side Brace Overcentre Travel and Limit Switch. This directive applies to all models within the Beechcraft 76 series and requires actions to be taken in accordance with Beechcraft Service Bulletin No 2081. Compliance with this directive is mandatory unless previously accomplished, and it must be achieved prior to the issuance of the next Maintenance Release after 9 April 1987. Notably, previous compliance with the superseded Beechcraft Service Instruction 1092 does not satisfy the requirement for the downlock limit switch adjustment but does comply with the need to check MLG side brace overcentre travel. This directive extends to all Beechcraft 76 aircraft to address issues related to inadvertent retractions of the Main Landing Gear due to the MLG side brace overcentre travel and limit switch being out of adjustment, a problem that affected aircraft listed in SB No 2081 and later serial numbers.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives specifically targeting the Beechcraft 76 (Duchess) Series Aeroplanes. The pertinent section here is AD/BEECH 76/16 Amendment 1 ((39-105)). This directive mandates specific action concerning the Main Landing Gear (MLG) side brace overcentre travel and limit switch. The requirement is to follow Beechcraft Service Bulletin (SB) No 2081 ((39-105)). The compliance must be achieved before the issuance of the next Maintenance Release after 9 April 1987 ((39-105)). It is important to note that compliance with the previous Service Instruction (SI) No 1092 does not suffice for the downlock limit switch adjustment; however, it does meet the requirement to check the MLG side brace overcentre travel ((39-105)).
The obligations imposed by this directive are significant. Operators and owners of Beechcraft 76 aircraft must ensure that the MLG side brace overcentre travel and limit switch are correctly adjusted as per the guidelines in Beechcraft SB No 2081 ((39-105)). This involves precise adherence to the specified maintenance procedures to prevent inadvertent retractions of the MLG, which have been a known issue ((39-105)). Given the potential safety implications, it is imperative that these adjustments are not only made but also verified and documented accurately ((39-105)).
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/BEECH 76/16 Amendment 1 can lead to serious consequences ((39-105)). The directive highlights that inadvertent retractions of the MLG, resulting from improper adjustment of the side brace overcentre travel and limit switch, can pose significant safety risks ((39-105)). While the specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, it is clear that such failures could result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) ((39-105)). Potential penalties might include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required adjustments are made ((39-105)). Given the critical nature of the directive, operators and owners must ensure strict adherence to avoid any risk to flight safety or regulatory penalties.