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
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 2 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/BEECH 90/69
Amdt 3
Outboard Wing Attachment Bolts and Nuts 11/2000
Applicability: All Model 65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, E90 and F90 aircraft.
Requirement: In accordance with the Beechcraft Structural Inspection and Repair Manual (SIRM) P/N 98-39006B3 as revised 28 May 1999, inspect and retire the outboard wing attachment bolts and nuts as follows:
- For tension (“bathtub”) fittings:-
a) Inspect Inconel bolts and nuts in accordance with the SIRM, Chapter 57-13-01 Chart 201 Index No. 10, chapter 57-13-02 chart 201 Index no 5, or Chapter 57- 14-01 Chart 201 Index No. 3, as applicable to individual aeroplanes.
b) Retire Inconel bolts and nuts from service.
Steel bolts and nuts are no longer permitted in tension fittings.
Note 1: Guidance for identifying aircraft originally fitted with steel tension bolts and nuts is given in Beechcraft Service Instruction 1235.
2. For shear fittings (lugs):- Retire steel bolts and nuts from service.
Note 2: All shear bolts are steel.
Note 3: Aircraft LJ-1085, LJ-1088 and subsequent, and LA-226 and subsequent, were manufactured with a shear fitting at the forward spar lower attachment. Earlier aircraft utilised a tension bolt in this location, characterised by the “bathtub” type fitting. All aircraft utilise tension type fittings on the forward spar upper attachment and the upper and lower rear spar attachments, which are not affected by this Directive.
Note 4: Inspection of the wing attach fittings is detailed in the current issue of AD/BEECH 90/48.
Compliance: For Requirement 1(a):- At intervals not exceeding 3 calendar years or 1000 hours component time in service, whichever occurs first.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
For Requirement 1(b):- Prior to exceeding 15 calendar years from installation, or 15 000 hours component time in service, whichever occurs first.
For Requirement 2:- Prior to exceeding 5 calendar years from installation, or at any time the bolts are removed, whichever occurs first.
Note 5: Inspections carried out in accordance with previous issues of this Directive, satisfy the initial inspection requirement of this issue.
This Amendment becomes effective on 2 November 2000.
Background: AD/BEECH 90/69, which became effective on 31 March 1983, introduced Inconel attach bolts and nuts for the tension fittings in accordance with Beech SI 1235. It superseded AD/BEECH 90/63 Amdt 1 and AD/BEECH 90/66, and reduced the inspection frequency previously detailed in those ADs. All aircraft should now have the Inconel bolts installed.
Amendment 1 became effective on 6 September 1990 and promulgated the SIRM which superseded SI 1235.
Amendment 2 increased the life of Inconel bolts, and introduced a retirement life for steel shear bolts. The inspection intervals were unchanged from Amendment 1, but were not clearly specified.
This issue results from a review of airframe ADs for the Beech heavy twins. The SIRM reference has been updated to the current revision status, the compliance clarified, and a cross reference made to AD/BEECH 90/48 regarding inspection of the fittings.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 22 September 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate the safety standards of civil aviation. These regulations are essential for ensuring that aircraft and aeronautical products meet the necessary safety requirements before and during operation. Specifically, the PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITYSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES addresses the issue of maintaining the airworthiness of specific aircraft models, such as the Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series Aeroplanes. The policy objective behind these regulations is to prevent unsafe conditions that could compromise the safety of aircraft operations. One such regulation is the Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3, which was introduced to address safety concerns related to the outboard wing attachment bolts and nuts of certain Beechcraft models. This directive mandates specific actions to rectify identified unsafe conditions, thereby enhancing the overall safety and reliability of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. Specifically, the AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3 pertains to all Model 65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, E90, and F90 aircraft. The directive requires that the outboard wing attachment bolts and nuts be inspected and, if necessary, retired according to the Beechcraft Structural Inspection and Repair Manual (SIRM). The directive applies to all tension and shear fittings within the specified aircraft models, mandating that Inconel bolts and nuts are to be inspected and retired in tension fittings, while steel bolts and nuts in shear fittings are to be retired. This directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by CASA. The AD does not explicitly state any exclusions but mandates specific actions based on the aircraft's operational history and component time in service. The directive's application can be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically targeting Model 65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, E90, and F90 aircraft. This directive, AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3, mandates specific actions to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft, particularly focusing on the inspection and replacement of outboard wing attachment bolts and nuts. The directive revokes the previous AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 2, which was in effect from 1983 and had been amended in 1990. This new directive is effective from 2 November 2000 and was officially published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000.
The AD requires operators to inspect and retire the outboard wing attachment bolts and nuts in accordance with the Beechcraft Structural Inspection and Repair Manual (SIRM) P/N 98-39006B3 as revised on 28 May 1999. For tension fittings, Inconel bolts and nuts must be inspected and retired if they are found to be unfit for service. Steel bolts and nuts are no longer permitted in tension fittings, and for shear fittings, only steel bolts and nuts must be retired. The AD specifies that inspections should be carried out at intervals not exceeding 3 calendar years or 1000 hours of component time in service, whichever comes first. For bolts installed more than 15 calendar years ago or 15,000 hours of service, they must be retired. For shear fittings, bolts must be retired within 5 calendar years from installation or whenever they are removed.
Operators of the affected aircraft must comply with the specified inspection and retirement requirements outlined in the AD. This includes following the Beechcraft Structural Inspection and Repair Manual and ensuring that the appropriate bolts and nuts are inspected and replaced as per the directives. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in severe consequences, including potential grounding of the aircraft, which would render it non-airworthy and unfit for operation. Non-compliance with ADs is taken very seriously by CASA, as these directives are issued to address safety concerns and ensure the continued safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
In terms of penalties and consequences for non-compliance, CASA has the authority to enforce the ADs through various means. Civil penalties may include fines up to a maximum of $66,000 per offence under section 56 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, CASA can take legal action to enforce compliance, which may result in further financial penalties or even imprisonment in severe cases. Criminal penalties may apply if the non-compliance is found to be wilful or reckless, with potential imprisonment terms varying based on the severity of the breach. Operators are thus strongly advised to adhere strictly to the requirements set out in the AD to avoid any legal repercussions.