COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 77/8 Horizontal Stabiliser Attach Bolts 10/81
Applicability: All model 77 with S/Nos. WA-1 to WA-7, WA-9 to WA-29, WA-31 to WA-39, WA- 41 to WA-51, WA-53 to WA-70, WA-72 to WA-79, WA-81 to WA-89 and WA-91 to WA-98.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SI NO. 1193. Compliance: Within 100 hours’ time in service after 31 October 1981.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts may have been incorrectly installed at initial assembly.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, includes various Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operating in Australia. One such directive is AD/BEECH 77/8, which addresses an issue with the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts on Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) series aeroplanes. This directive was enacted to address the problem of potentially incorrectly installed attach bolts at initial assembly, as identified by the manufacturer, and mandates compliance within 100 hours’ time in service after 31 October 1981. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, operating under the authority of the Australian Government, established this directive to ensure that the identified safety issue is rectified, thereby enhancing the overall safety standards for these aircraft.
The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk associated with the potential installation error of the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. By setting a compliance timeline, the directive ensures that the necessary corrective actions are implemented promptly, thus maintaining the safety and reliability of the aircraft within the Australian aviation industry. The directive is a critical component of the regulatory framework overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to uphold the highest safety standards for civil aviation operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the maintenance and airworthiness of the Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes, as detailed in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This regulation mandates specific action concerning the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts for certain serial numbers, as outlined in the directive AD/BEECH 77/8. The directive applies to all model 77 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from WA-1 to WA-7, WA-9 to WA-29, WA-31 to WA-39, WA-41 to WA-51, WA-53 to WA-70, WA-72 to WA-79, WA-81 to WA-89, and WA-91 to WA-98. Compliance with the requirements set forth by the Beechcraft Service Information NO. 1193 is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service following 31 October 1981, to address the potential issue of incorrectly installed horizontal stabiliser attach bolts at initial assembly. This directive is enforceable under the Commonwealth of Australia's civil aviation regulatory framework, ensuring adherence to safety standards across the specified aircraft models.
Key Provisions
The primary sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) concerning the Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes, specifically in relation to the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts, are identified in AD/BEECH 77/8 (section 10/81). This directive applies to all model 77 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from WA-1 to WA-7, WA-9 to WA-29, WA-31 to WA-39, WA-41 to WA-51, WA-53 to WA-70, WA-72 to WA-79, WA-81 to WA-89, and WA-91 to WA-98. The key requirement of this directive is that affected aircraft must comply with the instructions provided in Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1193. This compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of the aeroplane’s time in service after 31 October 1981.
The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Regulations on the operators and owners of the specified Beechcraft 77 aeroplanes include ensuring that the horizontal stabiliser attach bolts are correctly installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This involves a thorough inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the bolts to meet the specifications outlined in Beechcraft SI NO. 1193. Operators must maintain records of the compliance action taken, including the date of compliance and the serial number of the aeroplane. This documentation is crucial for regulatory oversight and must be made available for inspection by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) upon request.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/BEECH 77/8 may result in significant consequences. Operators and owners of non-compliant aircraft risk facing civil penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The maximum penalty for non-compliance can be substantial, reflecting the potential safety risks associated with incorrectly installed horizontal stabiliser attach bolts. Additionally, CASA has the authority to take enforcement actions, which may include grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved, thereby impacting the operational availability and potentially leading to financial losses for the operator.