CASA ADCX 009/24 - Repeal of Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3

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Legislation au F2024L01506 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

CASA ADCX 009/24 - Repeal of Airworthiness Directive
AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3

Legislation

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation relating to safety, amongst other things. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product.

Under subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. Regulation 39.001A of CASR, defines “airworthiness directive” to include foreign State of Design ADs issued on or after 1 October 2009. Accordingly, when a foreign State of Design issues an AD for a type of aircraft on the Australian Register, that AD applies to Australian aircraft. However, CASA may grant an exclusion from the AD or approve an acceptable means of compliance other than that set out in the AD.

Background

AD/BEECH 90/69, which became effective on 31 March 1983, introduced the use of Inconel attachment bolts and nuts for the tension fittings in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction (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.

AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 1 which became effective on 6 September 1990 promulgated the Beechcraft Structural Inspection Repair Manual (SIRM) which superseded SI 1235.

AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 2 increased the life limit 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.

AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 which became effective on 2 November 2000, resulted from a review of airframe ADs for the Beech heavy twin-engine aircraft. The SIRM reference was updated to the current revision status, the compliance section was clarified, and a cross reference made to AD/BEECH 90/48 regarding inspection of the fittings.

Repeal

This instrument repeals AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 because the requirements of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 have been incorporated into Textron Aviation (Beechcraft) Airworthiness Limitation Manual Part Number (P/N) 90-590024-187C Revision C issued February 2015, for Beechcraft C90 series aircraft.

The Airworthiness Limitation Manual contains the required inspections and replacement intervals for the affected components. These inspection and replacement intervals are mandated by paragraph 9.1 of Civil Aviation Order 100.5 and apply to all Beech C90 aircraft.

Consultation

No public or other consultation has taken place on the repeal of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 because the requirements of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 have been incorporated into Textron Aviation (Beechcraft) Airworthiness Limitation Manual Part Number (P/N) 90-590024-187C Revision C which must be complied with because it is mandated by paragraph 9.1 of Civil Aviation Order 100.5. For this reason, it is CASA’s view that it is not necessary or appropriate to undertake any consultation under section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003 (LA).

Office of Impact Analysis (OIA)

An Impact Analysis (IA) is not required because ADs are covered by a carve out by the Office of Impact Analysis under which a IA is not required for Australian airworthiness directive (OIA23-06244).

Sunsetting

As the instrument relates to aviation safety and is made under CASR, Part 4 of Chapter 3 of the LA (the sunsetting provisions) does not apply to the instrument (as per item 15 of the table in section 12 of the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015). However, this instrument will be repealed in accordance with section 48A of the LA, which will occur before the sunsetting provisions would have repealed the instrument if they had applied. Therefore, the exemption from sunsetting does not affect parliamentary oversight of this instrument.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

 

Making and commencement

The instrument has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

The instrument commences on 29 November 2024.


Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

CASA ADCX 009/24 - Repeal of Airworthiness Directive
AD/BEECH 90/69 Amdt 3

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms
recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the legislative instrument

The purpose of this legislative instrument is to repeal an airworthiness directive (AD) that is no longer required as the requirements of the AD have been incorporated into Textron Aviation (Beechcraft) Airworthiness Limitation Manual Part Number (P/N) 90-590024-187C Revision C which must be complied with because it is mandated by paragraph 9.1 of Civil Aviation Order 100.5. The AD relates to inspection and rectification or maintenance of specified aircraft or aeronautical products.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

 

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, enacted under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, provide the legal framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. These regulations empower the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were introduced to address the need for comprehensive and enforceable aviation safety standards, aligning with the Convention on International Civil Aviation's requirements. The policy objective is to ensure that all civil aviation activities within Australia are conducted safely and without undue risk to people or property. The repeal of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3, as detailed in CASA ADCX 009/24, is an example of how the regulations adapt to new information and industry standards, ensuring that safety directives remain current and effective. This repeal reflects CASA's commitment to maintaining high safety standards by aligning with updated industry manuals that provide more detailed and comprehensive inspection and maintenance requirements.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by CASA ADCX 009/24, pertain to the repeal of Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3. This repeal applies to all entities and individuals responsible for the maintenance and inspection of aircraft within Australia that are subject to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. The scope extends to aircraft operators, maintenance organisations, and aviation professionals who must ensure compliance with the updated airworthiness directives and manuals. Geographically, the regulations apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing state and territory jurisdictions. The repeal of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3 is a result of its requirements being integrated into the Textron Aviation (Beechcraft) Airworthiness Limitation Manual P/N 90-590024-187C Revision C, which is mandated by Civil Aviation Order 100.5. As such, this directive is no longer necessary, and the updated manual now governs the inspection and maintenance intervals for the affected components. No consultation was deemed necessary for this repeal as it merely aligns with existing mandated procedures. The repeal of this specific AD is also exempt from the sunsetting provisions under the Legislation Act 2003, but will be repealed in accordance with section 48A of the same Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the legislation concern the repeal of Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3, which has been incorporated into Textron Aviation's Airworthiness Limitation Manual. This repeal is made under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (section 98) and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (regulation 39.001). The directive in question originally related to the use of Inconel attachment bolts and nuts for the tension fittings in Beechcraft aircraft, and it has now been subsumed into a more comprehensive manual that must be followed as mandated by Civil Aviation Order 100.5 (section 9.1). This repeal ensures that the updated manual, which contains the necessary inspection and replacement intervals, takes precedence over the now-superseded directive. The obligations imposed by the Act require the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. CASA must also ensure that any repealed directives no longer conflict with current safety standards and regulations. Under the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (subsection 33(3)), CASA has the power to repeal or amend directives as necessary. The State of Registry for individual aircraft remains responsible for the continuing airworthiness of those aircraft and must ensure compliance with the latest airworthiness directives and manuals. CASA may also grant exclusions from directives or approve alternative means of compliance where appropriate. The legislation does not explicitly state any new offences or penalties for the repeal of AD/BEECH 90/69 Amendment 3. However, failure to comply with the continuing airworthiness requirements as outlined in the new Airworthiness Limitation Manual could result in civil or criminal penalties under existing aviation safety laws. The Civil Aviation Act 1988 (section 98) and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (regulation 39.001A) empower CASA to enforce compliance, and non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, fines, or other penalties. The repealed directive's requirements, if not followed, could still be subject to the same penalties as outlined in the current regulations. Given that the repealed directive's requirements have been incorporated into the Airworthiness Limitation Manual, which is mandated by Civil Aviation Order 100.5, any non-compliance with the manual's stipulations would be treated as a breach of the continuing airworthiness obligations. The potential consequences for such breaches can include enforcement actions by CASA, fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the severity of the non-compliance, but they could range from administrative penalties to more serious criminal sanctions.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.