AD/BEECH 90/82 - Ailerons

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Commonwealth of Australia's Legislative instrument F2006B04266, addresses specific safety concerns related to the Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) series aeroplanes. This piece of legislation was introduced to mitigate risks associated with potential imbalances in the aileron control surfaces, which could lead to flutter and compromise flight safety. The enactment is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which mandates compliance with the specified directives to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. The overarching policy objective is to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety through the regulation and enforcement of airworthiness directives. The legislation, which includes a schedule of airworthiness directives, specifically targets models C90A with serial numbers LJ-1132 through LJ-1167 and any aircraft that may have had aileron replacements installed since 1 January 1985. It requires adherence to Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No 2256, referencing FAA AD 89-22-14, and mandates compliance before exceeding 100 hours of service time after 25 January 1990 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release, whichever comes later. This directive aims to prevent the accumulation of water in foam within the ailerons, which could lead to an out-of-balance condition and subsequent control surface flutter.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the maintenance and airworthiness directives for certain Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) series aeroplanes. This regulation mandates that aircraft models C90A with serial numbers ranging from LJ-1132 through LJ-1167, as well as any aircraft that have had aileron replacements since 1 January 1985, must comply with Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No 2256. The requirement is to address the issue of potential water retention by foam within the aileron structure, which may lead to an imbalance and subsequent control surface flutter. Compliance with this directive must be achieved prior to the aircraft exceeding 100 hours of service time after 25 January 1990, or at the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release after this date, whichever comes later. This directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and extends to any aircraft operating within its jurisdiction, adhering to the standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The key provision of this legislation, specifically AD/BEECH 90/82, pertains to the maintenance and safety of aileron systems in certain Beechcraft 90 and 65-90 (King Air) Series aeroplanes. Section (1) identifies the specific models and serial numbers of the aircraft that fall under this directive, namely Model C90A with serial numbers ranging from LJ-1132 to LJ-1167, as well as any aircraft that may have had replacement ailerons installed after 1 January 1985. This requirement is outlined in Section (2) and mandates compliance with Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No 2256. Section (3) further notes the relevance of FAA AD 89-22-14, which provides additional context and background to the directive. Section (4) stipulates the compliance timeline, which necessitates action to be taken either before the aircraft exceeds 100 hours of time in service after 25 January 1990 or at the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release after 25 January 1990, whichever is later. This legislation imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities it governs. The primary obligation is to ensure compliance with Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No 2256, which involves addressing the potential issue of foam retaining water and creating an aileron out-of-balance condition that could result in control surface flutter. This requires the identification and resolution of any issues related to the aileron systems in the specified aircraft models and serial numbers. The compliance timeline outlined in the directive ensures that any necessary actions are taken within a specific timeframe, either before the aircraft exceeds 100 hours of time in service after 25 January 1990 or at the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release after 25 January 1990, whichever is later. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in this legislation may result in civil or criminal consequences, as well as potential penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, it is clear that non-compliance with airworthiness directives and safety regulations can have serious ramifications. This may include fines, legal action, and potential grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary actions are taken to address the identified issues. It is essential for the parties and entities governed by this legislation to adhere to the specified requirements and timelines to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.