Proposed Airworthiness Directives

Background

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-13-17 as a Final Rule on 2 July 2008. This AD affects Beech F33, F33A, F33C, G33, V35B, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 95-B55, D55, E55, A56TC, 58, 58P, 58TC, G58 and 77 Model aeroplanes and will become effective on 6 August 2008.

The FAA issued the AD following receipt of reports of certain circuit breaker toggle switches used in various electrical systems throughout Beech model aeroplanes overheating. Failure of the circuit breaker toggle switch could result in smoke in the cockpit and the inability to turn off the switch. The FAA AD was originally the subject of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and several American organisations and individuals commented on the proposed AD. The FAA has responded to these comments and the responses are detailed in the Final Rule. A copy of the FAA Final Rule and AD 2008-13-17 follows.

CASA anticipates that many of the comments received by the FAA will be applicable in Australia and have already been addressed by the FAA.

FAA AD 2008-13-17

CASA Actions

In compliance with our international obligations, CASA has evaluated the FAA Final Rule and AD 2008-13-17 and propose to issue six Australian ADs covering the aeroplanes listed in the FAA AD. While CASA stands by the research carried out by the FAA and the aircraft manufacturer, CASA proposes to extend the compliance period for the Australian ADs by approximately 13 months to 25 September 2010, the final compliance time required by the FAA was 6 August 2009. This is not a NPRM but early advice as to what CASA proposes to do in response to the FAA AD. Copies of the proposed ADs are available below.

Beechcraft 33 & 35-33 (Debonair/Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes