COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 99 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 99/6 Wing Structural Fatigue Limitations 12/96
Applicability: All model 99 aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect and retire the wing structural components in accordance with the Beechcraft 99 Airliner Series Continued Airworthiness Program Inspection Manual P/N 98- 30131 Rev. A1, Sections 57-10 and 57-20.
Note: FAA AD 92-15-13 refers.
Compliance: This Directive takes effect 7 November 1996.
Background: This Directive requires life limited components to be retired to prevent fatigue failure of the wing spar and associated structure.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these Regulations, which pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses the need to maintain aircraft airworthiness and safety standards. One such directive, AD/BEECH 99/6, concerns Beechcraft 99 Series Aeroplanes and was introduced to address the issue of wing structural fatigue limitations. This directive was enacted to mandate the inspection and retirement of specific wing structural components to prevent fatigue failure, ensuring the continued safety of these aircraft in operation. The policy objective is clearly stated as the necessity to enforce stringent measures to avoid potential fatigue-related failures in the aircraft's wing structure.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all persons and entities operating model 99 Beechcraft aircraft in Australia. This regulation mandates that all operators of these aircraft must inspect and retire the wing structural components in accordance with the specified Beechcraft 99 Airliner Series Continued Airworthiness Program Inspection Manual sections, ensuring compliance with the safety directives designed to prevent fatigue failure of the wing spar and associated structures. This Act applies nationally across Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. While the Act sets forth the overarching requirements, compliance is achieved through adherence to the detailed procedures outlined in the referenced inspection manual, and it references FAA AD 92-15-13 for further guidance. The directive became effective from 7 November 1996, with no stated exclusions or exemptions, and its application is extended through subordinate instruments and manuals as necessary for operational compliance.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains a schedule of airworthiness directives that govern the safety and operational standards of aircraft in Australia. In this particular directive, AD/BEECH 99/6, the focus is on Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes, and it mandates stringent inspections and retirement of specific wing structural components to prevent fatigue failures (Part 39 - 105 (1)). The directive applies to all model 99 aircraft, ensuring that they meet the necessary safety standards to continue operating in Australian airspace (Part 39 - 105 (2)).
The directive stipulates that the wing structural components must be inspected and retired in accordance with the Beechcraft 99 Airliner Series Continued Airworthiness Program Inspection Manual P/N 98-30131 Rev. A1, Sections 57-10 and 57-20 (Part 39 - 105 (3)). This requirement ensures that the inspections are thorough and meet the industry standards set forth by Beechcraft and recognised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive references FAA AD 92-15-13, indicating alignment with international safety regulations and standards (Part 39 - 105 (4)).
Compliance with this airworthiness directive is mandatory, and it took effect on 7 November 1996 (Part 39 - 105 (5)). The directive's purpose is to enforce the retirement of life-limited components to prevent fatigue failure of the wing spar and associated structures, thereby maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft (Part 39 - 105 (6)). Failure to comply with these provisions could result in serious safety hazards, including potential in-flight structural failure, which could endanger passengers and crew.
The obligations imposed by this directive on the operators and maintainers of Beechcraft 99 Series aeroplanes include conducting the specified inspections and ensuring that any required component retirements are performed in line with the prescribed manual and sections (Part 39 - 105 (7)). Operators must also ensure that all maintenance and inspection records are accurately documented and readily available for review by CASA inspectors (Part 39 - 105 (8)). This documentation is crucial for demonstrating compliance and ensuring that the aircraft remains airworthy.
Breaches of this airworthiness directive can result in significant penalties and consequences. Operators and maintainers who fail to comply with the directive's requirements may face enforcement actions from CASA, which can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges (Part 39 - 105 (9)). The maximum penalties for non-compliance can be substantial, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to these safety standards to protect the public and maintain the integrity of the aviation industry (Part 39 - 105 (10)).