{"id":"F2006B03800","name":"AD/BEECH 33/33 - Seat Recline Actuators","slug":"ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43396,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03800-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BEECH 33/33 - Seat Recline Actuators","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Beechcraft 33 and 35-33 (Debonair/Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/BEECH 33/33 Seat Recline Actuators 12/87\n\nApplicability: All models with S/Nos listed in the Requirement document which are equipped with Hydrolock seat recline actuators on copilot, 3rd and 4th seats.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SB No 2175 R1.\n\n \n\nNote: FAA AD 87-18-06 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 100 hrs time in service after 3 December 1987 or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue, whichever is later.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer reports instances of inadvertent actuation of the seat mechanism which in some phases of flight operation could be a hazard.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive confines its scope to the aircraft and seats specified in the Applicability and requires the corrective actions set out in the manufacturer’s Service Bulletin (Requirement). The stated purpose (addressing inadvertent actuation reported by the manufacturer) is consistent with the operative requirements: there is no indication in the text that the AD expands beyond that original safety concern or adds additional categories of aircraft or components (Applicability; Background; Requirement)."},"complexity_factors":["Mandate references an external technical document (Beechcraft SB No. 2175 R1) rather than prescribing procedures directly (Requirement).","Applicability is limited to aircraft with serial numbers listed elsewhere, requiring cross-checking of a separate list (Applicability).","Compliance timing contains a conditional deadline (100 hours after a fixed date or at next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release) (Compliance).","The AD refers to a foreign regulator's AD (FAA AD 87-18-06), adding a cross-jurisdictional reference (Note).","The AD does not specify parts, labour standards or enforcement mechanics, leaving implementation details to operators and maintenance organisations (Requirement)."],"plain_english_summary":"# What this directive does\n\nThis is an Airworthiness Directive applying to certain Beechcraft 33 and 35-33 (Debonair/Bonanza) aeroplanes that have Hydrolock seat recline actuators installed on the copilot, 3rd and 4th seats (Applicability). It requires operators to carry out the work described in Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2175 R1 (Requirement). The stated reason is that the manufacturer reported instances of inadvertent actuation of the seat mechanism, which could be a hazard in some phases of flight (Background). The required work must be completed within 100 hours time in service after 3 December 1987 or at the next scheduled inspection for issuing a Maintenance Release, whichever is later (Compliance). The notice also refers to a related FAA airworthiness directive (Note).\n\n# Who is affected and who decides\n\n- Affected: Owners/operators of the Beechcraft serial numbers listed in the Requirement document that are equipped with the specified Hydrolock actuators (Applicability).  \n- Decision makers: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issues the directive; the actual inspection/rectification steps are set out in Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2175 R1 (Requirement). The AD also points to an FAA AD as related guidance (Note).\n\n# What owners/operators must do and when\n\n- They must follow the actions in Beechcraft SB No. 2175 R1 (Requirement).  \n- They must complete that work within the earlier of: (a) 100 hours time in service after 3 December 1987, or (b) the next scheduled inspection that leads to a Maintenance Release, if that is later (Compliance).\n\n# Who pays and the compliance burden\n\n- Cost bearer: Aircraft owners/operators pay for the inspection, modifications, repairs or parts required by the Service Bulletin (Requirement).  \n- Burden: Operators incur labour time, parts cost, and aircraft downtime for the prescribed work. The AD sets a fixed compliance window (Compliance) but refers to an external service bulletin for technical steps (Requirement), so operators and maintenance organisations must obtain and follow that bulletin.\n\n# Incentives, enforcement and practical effects\n\n- Incentive to comply: Compliance is mandated by the AD to maintain the aircraft's airworthiness; operators will avoid regulatory action and reduce the risk of in-flight seat actuation by complying (Background, Requirement).  \n- Practical effect on maintenance market: The AD generates demand for the specific inspections/repairs described in the Service Bulletin (Requirement). Independent maintenance providers can perform the work subject to their capability and access to parts and the SB instructions.  \n- Discretion and implementation: The AD fixes the time window for compliance but delegates the technical method to the manufacturer’s Service Bulletin (Requirement). That delegation concentrates technical discretion in the SB; the AD does not itself specify detailed methods or parts.\n\n# Trade-offs, risks and uncertainties\n\n- Trade-off: Operators bear explicit costs (labour, parts, downtime) to address the safety concern reported by the manufacturer (Background).  \n- Implementation risks: Availability of parts, access to the Service Bulletin, or scheduling maintenance within the compliance window could affect how easily operators meet the AD’s deadline (Requirement, Compliance).  \n- Substitution effects: Operators might choose to defer other maintenance to meet this AD timetable or use different maintenance providers; the AD does not address funding or prioritisation of those choices.\n\n# Concrete mechanisms (where to look in the text)\n\n- Which aircraft: see Applicability.  \n- What work to do: follow Beechcraft SB No. 2175 R1 (Requirement).  \n- When to comply: within 100 hrs TIS after 3 December 1987 or at next scheduled inspection for a Maintenance Release, whichever is later (Compliance).  \n- Why: manufacturer-reported inadvertent actuation hazard (Background).  \n- Related authority: FAA AD 87-18-06 is referenced (Note)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive from 1987 addressing a specific mechanical defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspection/repair of seat recline actuators in specified aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement referencing an external manufacturer document (Beechcraft SB No 2175 R1)","Limited applicability — only specific serial numbers with specific equipment (Hydrolock actuators)","Simple compliance deadline structure (100 hours or next inspection, whichever is later)","No defined terms section, no cross-references to other legislation beyond a note about a related FAA directive","Short document — approximately 150 words of substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of certain Beechcraft 33 and 35-33 series aeroplanes (Debonair/Bonanza models) to inspect or fix the seat recline actuators (the hydraulic mechanisms that let seats tilt back) on the copilot seat and the 3rd and 4th passenger seats.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns or operates a Beechcraft 33 or 35-33 series aircraft with specific serial numbers that have \"Hydrolock\" brand seat recline actuators installed.\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer found cases where these seat mechanisms could move unexpectedly during flight. If a seat suddenly reclines at a critical moment — like during takeoff or landing — it could distract the pilot or block controls, creating a serious safety risk.\n\n**What must be done:** Aircraft operators must follow the instructions in Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2175 Revision 1. This work must be completed within 100 flight hours after 3 December 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for the aircraft's Maintenance Release (a certificate showing the plane is safe to fly), whichever comes later.\n\n**Key point:** This is a retrospective safety fix — it applies to aircraft already in service, not just new ones."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-33-33-seat-recline-actuators/documents"}}