{"id":"F2012L00411","name":"AD/BEECH 35/74 Amdt 1 - Forward Elevator Cable","slug":"ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":88522,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2012L00411-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplane","sectionType":"division","heading":"Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/BEECH 35/74 Amdt 1 | Forward Elevator Cable | 4/2012 |\n| --------------------- | ---------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) aeroplanes fitted with the forward elevator control cable configuration as detailed in figure 1 of this AD. |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | 1. Inspect the forward elevator control cable assembly for wear, broken wires and corrosion; or replace the forward elevator cable assembly.2. Remove from service any forward elevator control cable assembly found to be defective as a result of inspection conducted in accordance with Requirement 1 of this AD.3. Do not install on any aircraft a cable assembly or parts thereof that have been removed in accordance with Requirement 2 of this AD.Note 1: Inspections carried out in accordance with FAA AC 43-13-1B, chapter 7, Section 8, paragraph 7-149(d) or Beechcraft maintenance data are an acceptable means of compliance for the inspection called up by Requirement 1 of this AD. |\n| Compliance: | For Requirement 1.For those aircraft that have not had the forward elevator cable assembly replaced or inspected within the last maintenance release period - Remains unchanged as - Before further flight after the 16 January 2012 (the effective date of the original issue of this AD).For those aircraft located where the inspection cannot be carried out - one positioning flight (pilot only) is allowed to a place where the inspection can be carried out.Aircraft that have had the forward elevator cable assembly replaced or inspected in accordance with the original issue of this AD are considered to be in compliance with Requirement 1 of this AD. |\n\n| | For Requirement 2. Before further flight.For Requirement 3. After the effective date of this AD. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| | This Amendment becomes effective on 27 February 2012. |\n| Background: | CASA has received a report describing a forward elevator cable failure (separation) immediately prior to take-off. The elevator remained firmly in the full ‘down’ position due to system spring tension.A second aircraft was inspected at the owner’s request immediately following the discovery of the failed cable. The forward elevator cable in this aircraft was found to be extensively frayed in the same location as the failed cable.Since the original issue of this AD, CASA has received reports of 5 more cables found to be unserviceable.This AD required immediate inspection of the forward elevator cable and replacement for elevator cables over 15 years old, and required continuing inspections of the entire elevator control system to preclude the unanticipated failure of the elevator flight control system which may result in loss of control of the aircraft.Requirements for repeat inspections and the mandatory removal of cables in excess of 15 years in service have been removed from this AD following the publication of Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness (ICA) by the manufacturer. Those ICA are considered satisfactory to ensure the failure of the elevator cable does not occur provided that the ICA is adhered to during the inspection process.This Amendment clarifies the applicability section of the AD by introducing additional criteria (Figure 1) to assist the registered operator in determining whether this AD is applicable to their aircraft.The original issue of this AD became effective on 16 January 2012. |\n| | |\n| | Figure 1 - Forward Elevator Control Cable - Adaptedfrom Beechcraft Illustrated Parts Catalogue. |\n\n![](image.002.png) \nPeter Boyd \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n23 February 2012","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/BEECH 35/74 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/BEECH 35/74 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/BEECH 35/74 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Forward Elevator Cable","sectionType":"part","heading":"Forward Elevator Cable","content":"## Forward Elevator Cable","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4/2012","sectionType":"part","heading":"4/2012","content":"## 4/2012","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive imposed ongoing obligations: mandatory replacement of cables over 15 years old and repeat inspections. This amendment narrows the scope by removing those continuing requirements and converting it to a one-time inspection/replacement directive, relying instead on the manufacturer's newly published Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness (ICA) for ongoing safety. The scope has contracted rather than expanded."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument focused on one mechanical component","Only 3 substantive requirements with clear conditional logic (inspect OR replace)","Simple applicability test (specific aircraft model + visual reference to Figure 1)","Limited cross-referencing (only references FAA AC 43-13-1B and Beechcraft maintenance data as acceptable inspection standards)","Straightforward compliance dates with clear exceptions (one positioning flight allowed)","Some repetition and formatting artifacts in the source text (duplicate headers) but this doesn't affect legal complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD from CASA mandates inspection or replacement of the forward elevator control cable on affected Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) aeroplanes after reports of fraying and a near‑catastrophic cable failure that can cause loss of control. It applies to aircraft with the specific cable configuration shown in Figure 1.\n\nThis amendment removes the previous age‑based replacement and repeat‑inspection mandates because the manufacturer has issued Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness, and adds Figure 1 to help identify affected installations."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Amendment narrowed and clarified the AD’s scope compared with the original, prescriptive approach. The original AD required immediate inspection plus continuing inspections and mandatory removal of forward elevator cables older than 15 years. This Amendment removes the repeat inspection schedule and the mandatory 15‑year retirement requirement after the manufacturer published Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness (ICA). It also clarifies which aircraft are covered by adding the identification criteria shown in Figure 1. Concretely, the Amendment moves the long‑term compliance regime from a fixed, regulator‑mandated schedule to reliance on the manufacturer’s ICA, while retaining the original immediate inspection/removal requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Single aeroplane family applicability (Beechcraft 35 series) but limited to a specific cable configuration shown in Figure 1","Three substantive requirements (inspect/replace; remove defective parts; prohibit reinstallation)","References to external documents as acceptable compliance methods (FAA AC 43-13-1B; Beechcraft maintenance data; manufacturer ICA)","Removal of prior prescriptive measures (repeat inspections and 15‑year mandatory removals) increases reliance on external ICA (interpretation needed)","Short document length and limited conditional logic","An amendment that clarifies applicability and alters prior requirements (requires reading both original AD and amendment history for full context)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- This is an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) aeroplanes that have the particular forward elevator control cable arrangement shown in Figure 1 of the AD.\n- It requires immediate action by the aircraft operator: either inspect the forward elevator control cable assembly for wear, broken wires and corrosion, or replace the assembly outright (Requirement 1).\n- If an inspection finds the cable assembly is defective, the cable assembly must be removed from service (Requirement 2) and must not be re‑installed or re‑used (Requirement 3).\n- The AD accepts certain maintenance guidance as an approved way to carry out the inspection (Note 1): specifically FAA Advisory Circular AC 43-13-1B (chapter 7, section 8, paragraph 7-149(d)) or Beechcraft maintenance data.\n- Timing: for aircraft that have not had that forward elevator cable assembly inspected or replaced during the current maintenance release period, the AD requires compliance before further flight after 16 January 2012 (the original AD effective date). The Amendment became effective 27 February 2012. If an aircraft cannot be inspected where it is located, one positioning flight (pilot only) is allowed to reach a place where the inspection can be performed.\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- The registered operators (owners and their maintenance organisations) of Beechcraft 35 (Bonanza) aeroplanes that match the cable configuration shown in Figure 1.\n- Maintenance providers who perform the inspections or replacement work.\n\n**Why it matters (safety and operational mechanics)**\n\n- CASA received reports of forward elevator cable failures and heavily frayed cables. A failed forward elevator cable can jam the elevator in a single position (the report describes it remaining firmly in full ‘down’), which risks loss of effective elevator control.\n- The AD intervenes to detect and remove failed or unsafe cables before they cause an accident by mandating inspection or replacement and by prohibiting re‑use of removed/defective parts.\n\n**Policy rationale stated by the authority (and how that changes behaviour)**\n\n- The AD’s stated purpose is to prevent unanticipated failure of the elevator control system by ensuring immediate inspection and removal of defective cables. The AD originally required periodic inspections and mandatory retirement of cables over 15 years old; this Amendment removes those prescriptive, age‑based and repeat‑inspection requirements on the basis that Beechcraft’s Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness (ICA) provide adequate continuing inspection guidance provided operators adhere to them.\n\n**Costs, incentives and practical effects**\n\n- Who pays: aircraft owners/operators pay for the inspection work, any replacement cable assemblies, and downtime while the aircraft is inspected. Maintenance organisations will receive business from inspections/replacements.\n- Compliance burden: immediate (before further flight) action is required for aircraft not already inspected in the current maintenance release period. If operators cannot perform the inspection locally, one positioning flight (pilot only) is allowed to reach a maintenance location.\n- Enforcement and discretion: CASA enforces the AD. The AD explicitly permits certain external maintenance guidance (FAA AC or Beechcraft maintenance data) as acceptable compliance methods, and delegates continuing inspection details to the manufacturer’s ICA — which increases reliance on those external documents and on maintenance personnel following them correctly.\n- Trade‑offs and risks: removing the age‑based mandatory retirement and repeating inspection schedule reduces direct cost to operators who might otherwise replace cables at 15 years, but it shifts reliance onto correct and consistent application of the manufacturer’s ICA by many different maintenance providers and owners. That increases the importance of inspection quality and record‑keeping; if ICA compliance varies, risk of missed defects could rise.\n- Market effects: the AD creates immediate demand for inspections and possible cable replacements, benefiting maintenance providers and parts suppliers. It reduces a recurring replacement market (the former 15‑year mandatory retirements) by substituting manufacturer ICA-based inspection regimes.\n\n**Implementation considerations and unintended consequences**\n\n- The inspection relies on visual/maintenance procedures referenced in FAA AC 43-13-1B or manufacturer data; variation in interpretation or inspection thoroughness among maintenance providers is possible.\n- The AD prohibits reinstalling removed cable parts, so operators who remove defective assemblies must source replacements; depending on parts availability and supply, this can cause grounding or scheduling delays.\n- Allowing one pilot-only positioning flight reduces immediate operational disruption but does expose the aircraft to a short flight prior to inspection; operators must weigh the safety risk of that positioning flight versus the need to reach maintenance.\n\n**Source mechanics cited**\n\n- Requirement 1: inspect or replace the forward elevator cable assembly.\n- Requirement 2: remove from service any defective assembly found by inspection.\n- Requirement 3: do not reinstall parts removed under Requirement 2.\n- Note 1: FAA AC 43-13-1B or Beechcraft maintenance data are acceptable means of compliance for the inspection called up by Requirement 1.\n- Background: Amendment removed repeat inspections and the 15‑year mandatory removals after manufacturer ICA were issued; the Amendment also clarifies applicability via Figure 1.\n\nOverall, the AD imposes an immediate inspection-or-replace obligation and bans reuse of defective parts, while leaving ongoing inspection frequency and life limits to the manufacturer’s ICA rather than to a fixed age-based rule. This shifts short‑term costs to operators who must inspect/replace now, and shifts long‑term compliance to adherence to manufacturer maintenance instructions."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-35-74-amdt-1-forward-elevator-cable/documents"}}