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 90/57
Amdt 4
Fuselage Fatigue Life Limitations 4/85
Applicability: All model F90 series.
Requirement: 1. Retire the cabin door upper locking pins P/N 50-430177-3 and lower locking pins P/N 50-430018-9 from service.
2. Retire the pressure cabin from service.
Compliance: 1. For Para. 1 - Upon or prior to the locking pins achieving 4500 pressurised flight cycles.
2. For Para. 2 - Before exceeding 8200 pressurised flights.
Note: These lives may be revised following the completion of further tests and analysis currently being carried out by the manufacturer.
Background: This amendment deletes the retirement life requirements for cabin and cockpit side windows. All model F90 aircraft now have the stretched acrylic failsafe windows installed, AD/Beech 90/70 refers.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to establish and enforce safety standards within the aviation industry, addressing the need for stringent oversight and regulation to ensure public safety. The legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to establish a comprehensive framework for the certification and ongoing airworthiness of aircraft, thereby ensuring that all operations comply with safety standards and that risks are mitigated. One specific aspect of this regulatory framework is found in AD/BEECH 90/57 Amendment 4, which pertains to the Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series Aeroplanes. This amendment was introduced to address identified fatigue issues in the fuselage and specific components of these aircraft models, ensuring that the aircraft can safely operate within the prescribed lifespan and service limits. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in the aviation industry by enforcing strict airworthiness directives and compliance requirements.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to all Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) series aeroplanes, governing the mandatory retirement of certain components to ensure continued airworthiness and safety. This regulation mandates that the cabin door upper and lower locking pins, with part numbers 50-430177-3 and 50-430018-9 respectively, must be removed from service upon reaching 4500 pressurised flight cycles. Additionally, the pressure cabin itself must be retired before it exceeds 8200 pressurised flights. These directives are applicable nationally across Australia, enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and are integral to maintaining the safety standards of these aircraft. This legislative instrument does not currently apply to other models or series of aeroplanes and exclusions or exemptions are not specified in this particular directive. However, these limitations may be subject to future revisions based on ongoing tests and analyses by the manufacturer.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series Aeroplanes, introduce AD/BEECH 90/57 Amendment 4, which pertains to fuselage fatigue life limitations (AD/BEECH 90/57 Amdt 4). This directive mandates two primary requirements. Firstly, it requires the retirement from service of the cabin door upper locking pins P/N 50-430177-3 and lower locking pins P/N 50-430018-9 once they achieve 4500 pressurised flight cycles (section 1). Secondly, it mandates the retirement of the pressure cabin before it exceeds 8200 pressurised flights (section 2). The directive also notes that these lives may be revised based on ongoing tests and analyses by the manufacturer.
The obligations imposed by this Act require all operators of model F90 series aircraft to adhere strictly to the specified retirement timelines for the locking pins and the pressure cabin. Operators must ensure that these components are monitored and maintained according to the prescribed flight cycle limits. Any deviation from these requirements could potentially compromise the safety of the aircraft, thus making strict compliance mandatory.
Non-compliance with the directives outlined in AD/BEECH 90/57 Amendment 4 could result in serious safety hazards. The Act does not explicitly detail the specific penalties for non-compliance, but generally, failure to adhere to Civil Aviation Regulations can result in severe civil or criminal consequences. These may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has the authority to enforce these regulations and may impose penalties on operators who fail to meet the stipulated requirements.