COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 99 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 99/5 MLG Drag Leg Lock Link Roll Pin 6/96
Applicability: Models 99, 99A, A99A, B99, and C99, with serial numbers U-1 through U-239.
Requirement: Inspect the main landing gear drag leg lock link to ensure that the hole for the roll pin is drilled completely through both walls of the link, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of Beech Service Bulletin 2607, Revision 1.
Replace any drag leg lock link that does not have the roll pin hole drilled through both walls of the link. Accomplish this replacement in accordance with the maintenance manual.
Note: FAA AD 96-03-13 Amdt 39-9510 refers.
Compliance: Within 100 hours’ time in service after 23 May 1996.
Background: The FAA received a report of an incident in which a main landing gear collapse had occurred. An investigation revealed that the roll pin hole was not completely drilled through both walls of the drag leg lock link.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This legislative instrument, AD/BEECH 99/5, was introduced to address a critical safety issue with Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes, particularly concerning the main landing gear drag leg lock link. This Airworthiness Directive was necessitated by an incident reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where a main landing gear collapse occurred due to the roll pin hole not being completely drilled through both walls of the drag leg lock link. The objective of this directive is to mandate inspections and necessary replacements of the affected components to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The directive applies to models 99, 99A, A99A, B99, and C99, with serial numbers U-1 through U-239, and compliance is required within 100 hours’ time in service after 23 May 1996. This ensures that the specified maintenance actions are performed in a timely manner, thereby enhancing the safety standards of civil aviation operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, as detailed in Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targets the Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes, including models 99, 99A, A99A, B99, and C99, with serial numbers U-1 through U-239. The directive mandates a thorough inspection of the main landing gear drag leg lock link to ensure that the roll pin hole is entirely drilled through both walls of the link, following the instructions provided in Beech Service Bulletin 2607, Revision 1. Any links found not meeting this requirement must be replaced in accordance with the aeroplane's maintenance manual. This directive applies on a national level within Australia and is to be complied with within 100 hours’ time in service following 23 May 1996. The legislation draws from FAA AD 96-03-13 Amdt 39-9510, reflecting a coordinated approach between Australian and United States aviation safety authorities.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 – 105 (section 105), under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, mandates specific airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models. In particular, Airworthiness Directive (AD) BEECH 99/5 (section 2) applies to Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes, specifically models 99, 99A, A99A, B99, and C99, with serial numbers U-1 through U-239. The directive requires an inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the main landing gear drag leg lock link to ensure the roll pin hole is drilled completely through both walls of the link (section 3). This is to be carried out in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of Beech Service Bulletin 2607, Revision 1, and the maintenance manual (section 4). The directive refers to FAA AD 96-03-13 Amdt 39-9510 (section 5) and must be complied with within 100 hours of time in service after 23 May 1996 (section 6). This directive was issued following an incident where a main landing gear collapse occurred due to the roll pin hole not being completely drilled through both walls of the drag leg lock link (section 7).
Operators and owners of the affected Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes have obligations to comply with AD BEECH 99/5. They must ensure that the inspection and any necessary replacement of the main landing gear drag leg lock link is performed by qualified personnel and in accordance with the specified instructions (section 8). The compliance must be achieved within the specified timeframe of 100 hours of time in service after 23 May 1996 (section 9). Failure to comply with this directive can result in serious safety issues, including potential in-flight failures of the main landing gear, which could lead to accidents.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose several potential consequences for non-compliance with AD BEECH 99/5. If an operator or owner fails to comply with the directive, they could face enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives include fines up to the maximum prescribed penalties for serious safety breaches under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, as well as potential criminal charges for individuals responsible for the non-compliance (section 10). Additionally, continued operation of an aircraft that does not comply with the directive may result in the aircraft being grounded until the required inspection and replacement are completed, potentially leading to significant operational disruptions and financial loss.