{"id":"F2006B03897","name":"AD/BEECH 36/41 - Cabin Door Upper Hinge Cavity Sealing","slug":"ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43506,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03897-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BEECH 36/41 - Cabin Door Upper Hinge Cavity Sealing","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nBeechcraft 36 (Bonanza) Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/BEECH 36/41 Cabin Door Upper Hinge Cavity Sealing 13/92\n\nApplicability: Model A36 with serial numbers E-1946, E-2104, and E-2111 through E-2682.\n\nModel B36TC with serial numbers EA-320, and EA-389 through EA-524.\n\nRequirement: Seal the upper door hinge cavity in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of Beech Service Bulletin 2437.\n\nNote: FAA AD 92-18-11 Amdt 39-8356 refers.\n\nCompliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 10 December 1992.\n\nBackground: The FAA has received several reports of water leakage in the cabin door upper hinge cavity. This water could collect in the electrical wiring and inverted cover of the printed circuit board and short out electrical circuits, including the circuit for operating the landing gear.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument prescribes a targeted, model- and serial-number-specific maintenance action: sealing the cabin door upper hinge cavity as described. The AD's text establishes the applicability, the required action (per Beech Service Bulletin 2437) and the compliance deadline. The AD does not indicate any expansion or reduction of that scope from an earlier intent within the text provided."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability limited to listed model types and serial numbers (Applicability).","Single technical requirement (seal upper door hinge cavity) rather than multiple or conditional obligations (Requirement).","Prescriptive reliance on an external technical document (Beech Service Bulletin 2437), adding a step to obtain and follow that document (Requirement).","Short, defined compliance window (50 hours time in service after 10 December 1992) creates scheduling pressure but not legal ambiguity (Compliance).","Cross-reference to an FAA AD (Note) — coordination but not added procedural complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"What this directive changes (mechanical effect)\n\n- It requires that the upper hinge cavity of the cabin door be sealed on specified Beechcraft 36/B36TC aeroplanes. The sealing must be done by following the Accomplishment Instructions in Beech Service Bulletin 2437. (Requirement)\n- The work must be completed within 50 hours time in service after 10 December 1992. (Compliance)\n\nWho it affects\n\n- Owners and operators of the listed Beechcraft Model A36 and B36TC aeroplanes with the serial numbers given in the Applicability section. They are the parties who must arrange and pay for the sealing work. (Applicability) (Requirement)\n- Maintenance providers who will perform the sealing work according to the referenced service bulletin. (Requirement)\n\nOfficial purpose and the safety claim\n\n- The AD states its purpose is to stop water leaking into the cabin door upper hinge cavity. The stated risk is that water can collect on wiring and the printed circuit board cover and may short electrical circuits, potentially including the landing gear circuit. That rationale is described in the Background. (Background)\n\nTesting that claim against costs, incentives and practical effects\n\n- Who pays and who decides: Owners/operators of the affected aircraft must decide to have the work done and will pay for labour, materials and any downtime. The AD makes the action mandatory for the listed aircraft; compliance is the owner/operator's legal responsibility. (Applicability) (Requirement) (Compliance)\n- Compliance burden and timing: The action is a single technical maintenance task prescribed to be done within a 50-hour time-in-service window after 10 December 1992. That creates a short scheduling window and a discrete downtime/opportunity cost for aircraft use. The directive requires following Beech Service Bulletin 2437, so compliance requires access to that technical guidance and an appropriate maintenance facility. (Requirement) (Compliance)\n- Implementation risk and residual uncertainty: The AD requires sealing \"in accordance with\" the service bulletin. If the prescribed procedures are not followed exactly, the sealing may not prevent leaks. The AD does not itself set detailed technical steps; it relies on the referenced service bulletin to specify those steps. (Requirement)\n- Effects on service providers and market incentives: The requirement increases demand for maintenance work on the specified models for the tasks described in the service bulletin. For owners, there is a trade-off between paying for the sealing work (and scheduling downtime) and avoiding the risk of electrical shorting. (Requirement) (Compliance)\n- Inter-jurisdictional reference: The AD notes an FAA airworthiness directive (FAA AD 92-18-11) that addresses the same issue, which indicates the CASA action aligns with that FAA finding. The AD itself is the enforceable instrument for the listed Australian-registered aircraft. (Note)\n\nConcrete trade-offs and opportunity costs\n\n- Concentrated cost: The cost of performing the work falls directly on the owners/operators of the affected serial-numbered aircraft. (Applicability) (Requirement)\n- Concentrated benefit: The direct safety benefit—reduced risk of water ingress and related electrical shorts—accrues to those same owners/operators and to occupants and third parties relying on safe operation. (Background)\n- Opportunity cost: Aircraft availability is reduced while the work is done; owners must schedule maintenance within the 50-hour window or face non-compliance. (Compliance)\n\nPractical mechanics for compliance\n\n- Identify whether an aircraft is listed in the Applicability section. (Applicability)\n- Have the upper hinge cavity sealed following Beech Service Bulletin 2437. (Requirement)\n- Complete the work within the 50 hours TIS compliance window starting 10 December 1992. (Compliance)\n\nSource citations: Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background; Note."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing water ingress in cabin door hinges."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 2 aircraft models affected with specific serial number ranges listed","Single, straightforward requirement: seal hinge cavity per manufacturer bulletin","One clear compliance deadline (50 hours time in service after fixed date)","No defined terms section, no cross-references to other legislation beyond a note about the equivalent FAA directive","Simple causal chain in background: water leak → electrical short → landing gear failure risk"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific repairs or inspections on aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain **Beechcraft Bonanza aeroplanes** to seal a specific area around the cabin door (the \"upper hinge cavity\") to stop water getting in.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners/operators of **Model A36** Bonanzas with serial numbers E-1946, E-2104, and E-2111 through E-2682\n- Owners/operators of **Model B36TC** Bonanzas with serial numbers EA-320, and EA-389 through EA-524\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWater leaking into the door hinge area can drip onto electrical wiring and circuit boards, causing **short circuits**. This is particularly dangerous because it could affect the **landing gear circuit** — meaning the wheels might not deploy properly when needed.\n\n**What must be done:**\nThe sealing must be carried out following the specific instructions in **Beech Service Bulletin 2437** (a technical repair guide from the manufacturer). This must be completed within **50 hours of flying time** after 10 December 1992.\n\n**Key point:** This is not optional. Airworthiness Directives are legally binding safety requirements. Ignoring them means the aircraft cannot legally fly."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-36-41-cabin-door-upper-hinge-cavity-sealing/documents"}}