{"id":"F2006B03970","name":"AD/BEECH 55/20 Amdt 1 - Plastic Control Wheel","slug":"ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43579,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03970-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BEECH 55/20 Amdt 1 - Plastic Control Wheel","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 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/BEECH 55/20\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nPlastic Control Wheel 12/70\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models fitted with non-reinforced plastic control wheels.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Visually inspect all plastic non-reinforced control wheels for cracking. Control wheels in which cracks are present shall be replaced with a serviceable item before further flight. It is recommended that replacements should be of the metal reinforced type.\n\n \n\nCompliance: At intervals not exceeding 100 hours’ time in service after 31 December 1970.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument is presented as Amendment 1 to AD/BEECH 55/20 (Amdt 1), which indicates it modifies an earlier directive. The text in this amendment sets applicability (non-reinforced plastic control wheels), mandates visual inspection for cracking, requires replacement of cracked wheels before further flight, sets a 100‑hour inspection interval after 31 December 1970, and recommends metal reinforced replacements (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance). The source text does not include the original AD text, so the precise differences from the original cannot be shown here."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability: applies only to Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 series with non-reinforced plastic control wheels (Applicability).","Single, clear mandated action: visual inspection for cracking (Requirement).","Definite trigger for mandatory work: any wheel found cracked must be replaced before further flight (Requirement).","Fixed compliance interval: inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours TIS after 31 December 1970 (Compliance).","Recommendation versus mandate: replacement with metal reinforced type is recommended but not required, adding a small element of choice (Requirement).","Ambiguity in operational detail: AD does not define ‘serviceable’ or provide inspection standards or authorised inspection personnel, creating some interpretive discretion (Requirement / Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95‑55 aircraft fitted with non‑reinforced plastic control wheels to have those wheels visually inspected for cracking (at intervals not exceeding 100 flight hours) and to remove and replace any cracked wheel before further flight. Maintenance personnel carry out inspections; owners bear inspection and replacement costs. The AD recommends metal‑reinforced replacements but does not mandate them, leaving inspection standards and serviceability judgments to maintainers and operators."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a narrow, targeted safety directive focused specifically on a known mechanical defect in a particular aircraft component. The amendment appears to maintain the original scope — addressing cracking in non-reinforced plastic control wheels on specific Beechcraft models. There is no evidence of scope creep; it remains a discrete airworthiness requirement."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly used ('time in service')","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple conditional logic: if cracked → replace","Single compliance requirement with clear interval (100 hours)","No nested exceptions or complex procedural steps"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of certain Beechcraft Baron aeroplanes (models 55, 58, and 95-55) to inspect their control wheels (the steering wheel equivalent for planes) for cracks. If cracks are found, the control wheel must be replaced before the aircraft can fly again.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAnyone who owns or operates a Beechcraft Baron aircraft fitted with **non-reinforced plastic control wheels** — these are older-style wheels made of plastic without metal strengthening inside them.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nCracked control wheels can fail during flight, potentially causing loss of control of the aircraft. This directive prevents accidents by catching cracks early and forcing replacement with safer, metal-reinforced alternatives.\n\n**Key requirements:**\n- **Inspection:** Visual check for cracks on all non-reinforced plastic control wheels\n- **Replacement:** If cracked, swap out before next flight (recommended: use metal-reinforced type instead)\n- **How often:** Every 100 hours of flight time, starting from 31 December 1970\n\nThis is **Amendment 1** to an existing directive originally issued in December 1970, suggesting minor updates to the original safety order."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-55-20-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel/documents"}}