{"id":"F2006B03924","name":"AD/BEECH 400/21 - Battery and External Power Ground","slug":"ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43533,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03924-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\nBeechcraft 400 Series Aeroplanes","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/BEECH 400/21 Battery and External Pow","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/BEECH 400/21 Battery and External Power Ground 12/2001","content":"# AD/BEECH 400/21 Battery and External Power Ground 12/2001\n\nApplicability: Model 400A series aeroplanes, serial numbers RK-78, RK-87 through RK-207 inclusive.\n\nRequirement: 1. If not previously accomplished, replace the two bus bars, part number (P/N) 128- 364239-17 and P/N 101-361146-1, with a new, improved bus bar, P/N 101- 364046-231, in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 24-3253, dated January 1999.\n\n2. Bus bars having either P/N 128-364239-17 or P/N 101-361146-1 shall not be installed on any Beech 400A series aeroplane.\n\nNote: FAA AD 2001-20-07 Amdt 39-12455 refers.\n\nCompliance: For Requirement 1 - Within 50 hours time in service after the effective date of this Directive.\n\nFor Requirement 2 \\- As of the effective date of this Directive.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 November 2001.\n\nBackground: The United States Federal Aviation Administration has received reports of electrical arcing at the battery and external power receptacle of the airframe ground in the aft fuselage due to a deficiency in the bus bar and washer design.\n\nThis Directive requires replacement of bus bars connecting the battery and external power receptacle to the airframe ground with a new, improved bus bar. This action is intended to prevent overheating or arcing of the ground connection in the aft fuselage area, which could result in a fire hazard due to ignition of fuel fumes during an engine start sequence.\n\n![Signature: Eugene Paul Holzapfel](image.002.png)  \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 October 2001\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 7 November 2001.","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD stays within the original technical purpose: correct a specific electrical ground/washer/bus bar design deficiency that produced arcing in the aft fuselage. It mandates a particular parts replacement and an installation prohibition for the older parts. It does not expand into unrelated maintenance, operational restrictions, or broader airworthiness areas beyond the single hardware modification and its immediate compliance requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose airworthiness directive limited to one aircraft model and a narrow serial number range (RK-78, RK-87–RK-207)","Two clear requirements: mandatory replacement (Requirement 1) and prohibition on installation (Requirement 2)","Single referenced service document: Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 24-3253 (January 1999)","Single compliance timeframe: within 50 hours time in service for the replacement; prohibition effective immediately","One external cross-reference to FAA AD 2001-20-07 (note), minimal cross-referencing elsewhere","No defined-terms section, few conditional clauses, no nested exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this order does (mechanically):**\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requires certain Beechcraft Model 400A aeroplanes to have two specific electrical bus bars replaced with an upgraded bus bar (part number 101-364046-231). (Applicability; Requirement 1)\n- From the effective date, the older bus bars (P/N 128-364239-17 and P/N 101-361146-1) must not be installed on any Beech 400A aeroplane. (Requirement 2)\n- The replacement must be performed in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 24-3253, dated January 1999. (Requirement 1)\n- The replacement must be completed within 50 hours time in service after the AD becomes effective. (Compliance)\n\n**Who is affected:**\n\n- Owners and operators of Beechcraft Model 400A aeroplanes with serial numbers RK-78 and RK-87 through RK-207 inclusive. (Applicability)\n- Maintenance organisations and aircraft engineers who perform electrical and airframe maintenance on these aeroplanes.\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose):**\n\n- The United States FAA reported electrical arcing at the battery and external power receptacle ground in the aft fuselage caused by a deficiency in the original bus bar and washer design. The AD requires the new bus bar to prevent overheating or arcing that could ignite fuel fumes during an engine start. (Background)\n\n**Who pays and who decides:**\n\n- The aircraft owner/operator bears the cost of the replacement parts, labour, and any downtime required for installation and inspection. (Requirement 1; Compliance)\n- CASA (through its delegate) issued the AD and sets the compliance timing and installation prohibition. The AD references the Raytheon service bulletin as the required method of compliance. (Requirement 1)\n\n**Practical effects and required behaviour changes:**\n\n- Operators must procure the improved bus bar (P/N 101-364046-231) and arrange installation according to the Raytheon service bulletin within the 50-hour window. (Requirement 1; Compliance)\n- Maintenance records must reflect the mandatory modification and the older part numbers must be barred from reinstallation on these aircraft after the AD's effective date. (Requirement 2)\n- Maintenance providers and parts suppliers will see demand for the improved bus bar; owners may need to schedule work to minimise operational disruption.\n\n**Costs, trade-offs and implementation risks:**\n\n- Direct costs: purchase price of the replacement bus bars, labour to perform the change, and aircraft downtime. These are one-off costs for each affected aeroplane. (Requirement 1; Compliance)\n- Supply risk: if replacement parts are limited in stock, operators could face scheduling delays or higher short-term prices. (Requirement 1)\n- Operational risk: incorrect installation (failure to follow the Raytheon service bulletin) could leave the unsafe condition unresolved; proper maintenance oversight and record-keeping are necessary. (Requirement 1)\n- Enforcement and compliance: CASA can require compliance within the set timeframe; the AD creates an immediate prohibition on reinstalling the old parts. (Requirement 2; Compliance)\n\n**Effects on private enterprise and markets:**\n\n- Maintenance organisations and authorised service centres will capture the work (labour and shop visits) to implement the modification. Parts suppliers of the approved P/N benefit from replacement demand. (Requirement 1)\n- Suppliers or aftermarket sellers of the older P/Ns for these serial-numbered aircraft lose a permitted market for those parts as of the AD effective date. (Requirement 2)\n\n**How the stated purpose maps to obligations and risks:**\n\n- The AD's stated safety objective (prevent arcing/overheating and reduce fire ignition risk during engine start) is achieved by mandating a particular hardware change and prohibiting the original parts. (Background; Requirements 1–2)\n- Achieving that objective imposes short-term costs and operational disruption on affected operators, and creates a compliance burden concentrated on a narrowly defined set of serial-numbered aircraft. (Applicability; Compliance)\n\n**References and cross-checks:**\n\n- The AD requires compliance with Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 24-3253, January 1999. (Requirement 1)\n- It notes the related FAA AD 2001-20-07. (Note)\n\n**Bottom line (simple):** If you operate a Beech 400A with the listed serial numbers you must, within 50 hours TIS, replace two specified bus bars with the improved P/N 101-364046-231 following the Raytheon service bulletin, and you must not fit the old bus bars afterwards. The action is mandatory and intended to remove a fire/arc risk reported by the FAA. (Applicability; Requirements; Compliance)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive maintains its original narrow scope. It addresses a specific safety defect in a defined aircraft series and mandates a precise technical fix. There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive remains focused on the original safety concern regarding electrical arcing in the battery and external power ground connection."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific aircraft model and limited serial number range (RK-78, RK-87 through RK-207)","Only two substantive requirements: replacement of parts and prohibition on future installation","Clear, single compliance timeframe (50 hours time in service)","Minimal cross-referencing (only one FAA AD mentioned in a note, not incorporated by complex reference)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond the 'if not previously accomplished' clause","Straightforward mechanical action (replace Part A with Part B per specified service bulletin)","Short document length (approximately 300 words of substantive text)"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA has issued a mandatory repair order for certain Beechcraft 400A aeroplanes requiring replacement of faulty battery/external-power bus bars. The affected aircraft (serial RK-78 and RK-87–RK-207) must fit the improved bus-bar design because the old parts can arc and overheat near fuel lines, risking engine-start fires. The order took effect 29 Nov 2001 and requires replacement within 50 flight hours."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-400-21-battery-and-external-power-ground/documents"}}