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).

FMI: www.bonanza.org