Thu, Jan 26, 2012
Australia's CASA Had Issued An Emergency AD Last Week Grounding
Most Bonanzas
After discussions with Australian authorities and reviewing
recommendations from the American Bonanza Society (ABS), the
Federal Aviation Administration tells ABS it will not pursue any
airworthiness action regarding control cables as a result of
Australia's Urgent Airworthiness Directives, issued last week.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
issued a series of Urgent Airworthiness Directives that temporarily
ground most Beechcraft Bonanzas, Debonairs and Barons as a result
of discovery of a broken elevator control cable in one airplane and
a severely frayed cable in a second. The CASA ADs require control
cable inspection before further flight, and immediate replacement
of any cables found to be damaged. The most controversial part of
the Australian directives, however, is that they require
replacement of all elevator control cables after 15 years in
service regardless of the condition of the cable, a difficult,
expensive and unnecessary job.
ABS polled mechanics and inspectors and found there have been no
similar occurrences in the U.S. fleet, although it should
re-emphasize to mechanics that the entire length of all control
cables is inspected at annual inspections. FAA tells ABS it has
conferred with CASA and does not see the need for airworthiness
action at this time. FAA agrees with the ABS Air Safety
Foundation’s commitment to increase mechanic education, and
has accepted ABS’ suggestion that it release a Special
Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) recommending the
inspection to support ABS' educational efforts. FAA will of course
continue to monitor the issue, as will ABS.
The American Bonanza Society thanks the engineers and leaders of
the FAA's office of Continuing Operational Safety for its careful
review of the issue before making a rulemaking decision.
ABS offers any support it is able to provide to our members in
Australia and New Zealand, who are still subject to the Urgent
Airworthiness Directives issued by Australia's Civil Aviation
Safety Authority (CASA).
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