COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 90/55 Oxygen System - Inspection 8/80
Applicability: All models with S/Nos. LJ-490 to LJ-667 and LW-1 to LW-326, not modified in accordance with Beechcraft SI No. 0867-341, Rev. 2.
Requirement: 1. Fabricate a placard using letters at least 3 mm high to read as follows :
“Flight above 25,000 feet prohibited unless oxygen system is ARMED (ON)”.
2. Install this placard in clear view of the pilot and operate the aircraft in accordance with this limitation.
Compliance: Within the next 50 hours’ time in service after 16 July 1980.
Background: Overseas experience has shown that this requirement is necessary to prevent seizure and binding of the oxygen control cable due to freezing of contaminating moisture which will interfere with activation of the oxygen system.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted by the Australian Government to address the regulation and oversight of civil aviation safety, ensuring the highest standards are maintained for aircraft operations within the country. One particular legislative instrument, F2006B04243, introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series Aeroplanes, which was designed to address a critical safety issue identified in overseas operations. The AD mandates the installation of a placard in the specified aircraft models to prevent incidents of oxygen system failure due to freezing, which can occur at high altitudes and potentially endanger the flight crew and passengers.
This legislative instrument was introduced to mitigate the risk of oxygen system failure in Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 series aircraft, specifically those with serial numbers within the specified ranges. The policy objective is to enhance flight safety by ensuring that pilots are clearly informed of the operational limitations concerning the oxygen system at high altitudes, thereby preventing potential incapacitation due to hypoxia. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft models, requiring the installation of the placard within 50 hours of time in service following the issuance date of 16 July 1980.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses airworthiness directives for certain aircraft, including the Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all models with serial numbers falling within the specified ranges, LJ-490 to LJ-667 and LW-1 to LW-326, provided they have not been modified in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 0867-341, Rev. 2. The directive mandates the fabrication of a placard indicating a flight restriction above 25,000 feet unless the oxygen system is armed, and the installation of this placard in a location clearly visible to the pilot. Compliance with these directives is required within the next 50 hours of time in service following the issuance date of 16 July 1980. This regulation is intended to mitigate risks associated with the freezing of contaminating moisture in the oxygen control cable, which could otherwise lead to system malfunction. The regulations are enforced within the Commonwealth of Australia and extend to all applicable aircraft operating within its jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, contain a specific directive concerning the Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) series aeroplanes, identified as AD/BEECH 90/55. This directive mandates two primary actions to ensure the safety of these aircraft during flight (s. 1). Firstly, a placard must be fabricated, with lettering at least 3 mm high, to display the message: “Flight above 25,000 feet prohibited unless oxygen system is ARMED (ON)” (s. 1(1)). Secondly, this placard must be installed in a location where it is clearly visible to the pilot at all times (s. 1(2)). The directive applies to all models with serial numbers ranging from LJ-490 to LJ-667 and LW-1 to LW-326, excluding those modified in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 0867-341, Revision 2 (s. 2).
The obligations imposed by this directive are straightforward but critical for compliance. Operators of the affected Beechcraft aeroplanes must ensure that the specified placard is fabricated and installed within 50 hours of the directive’s effective date, which is 16 July 1980 (s. 3). The installation must comply with the requirement that the placard be visible to the pilot at all times, ensuring the operational constraint is always in the pilot’s line of sight (s. 4). These actions are necessary to mitigate the risk of oxygen system failure due to freezing of moisture in the control cable, which could lead to serious safety issues during flight.
Failure to comply with the directives outlined in AD/BEECH 90/55 can result in significant consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Typically, such actions may include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The precise nature and extent of penalties would be determined by CASA in accordance with the broader legislative framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia.