The American Bonanza Society has helped avert a potential mass-grounding of 1970 and newer Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons by securing from the FAA an extension to a fast-approaching deadline for replacing certain switch-type circuit breakers.

Airworthiness Directive 2008-13-17 originally mandated replacement of the switches by August 6. However, ABS found that the supplier was unable to keep up with demand and requested that the FAA change the deadline. With the approval from the FAA, owners of affected airplanes now have until August 6 to order the breakers, with replacement required within 90 days of receiving them.

Aircraft owners must meet certain obligations to take advantage of the new deadline:

1. Have hard-copy confirmation that the required breakers were ordered on or before August 6, 2009.
    
2.  Replace all switch-type breakers as required within 90 days of receipt of the last breaker requiring replacement under the AD.
    
3. Notify the principal inspector (PI) in the appropriate Flight Standards District Office, or lacking a PI, notify the FSDO. Ask your A&P or IA if help is needed to meet this requirement.  Note: This is an unusual provision for AMOCs. Owners may want to send a copy of the AMOC letter (posted on the ABS website) to the FSDO when making this report.

Until all breakers are replaced, ABS recommends that owners maintain all the appropriate documentation to show mechanics or inspectors if the airplane goes in for an annual or 100-hour inspection, or any work that requires a return-to-service related to the associated systems. On the homepage, click on the AD 2008-13-17 item in the "ABS News" column.

The Wichita, KS-based American Bonanza Society is an association representing nearly 10,000 owners and operators of the Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair, Baron and Travel Air.

FMI: www.bonanza.org