{"id":"F2006B04121","name":"AD/BEECH 65/17 Amdt 1 - Plastic Control Wheel - Inspection","slug":"ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43819,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04121-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BEECH 65/17 Amdt 1 - Plastic Control Wheel - Inspection","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 65 and 70 (Queen Air) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/BEECH 65/17\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nPlastic Control Wheel - Inspection 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":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward safety directive focused on a specific mechanical defect in a specific aircraft type. The scope remains exactly as originally intended: preventing control wheel failures in Beechcraft 65/70 series aircraft. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — approximately 150 words total","Zero defined terms requiring interpretation","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple conditional logic: if cracks found → replace before flight","Single, clear compliance deadline and interval (100 hours after 31 Dec 1970)","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions","Plain language throughout with no specialised legal terminology"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a compulsory recall notice, but for aircraft parts rather than cars or appliances.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific Beechcraft aeroplanes (the 65 and 70 \"Queen Air\" series) to **visually inspect their plastic control wheels** (the steering yokes pilots hold) for cracks.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone operating a Beechcraft 65 or 70 series aircraft that has **non-reinforced plastic control wheels** — not the stronger metal-reinforced type.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Inspect** the plastic control wheels for cracks\n- **Replace** any cracked control wheels with a serviceable (working) one before flying again\n- **Use metal-reinforced replacements where possible** (this is recommended but not strictly required)\n\n**When:** These inspections must happen **every 100 hours of flight time**, starting from 31 December 1970.\n\n**Why it matters:** Cracked control wheels could break during flight, potentially causing loss of control of the aircraft. This AD prevents that catastrophic failure by catching cracks early."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument itself states its applicability (all models fitted with non-reinforced plastic control wheels) and sets the inspection and replacement requirements and compliance interval. No earlier or alternative scope is provided in the text to indicate a change, so no change of scope is apparent from this document alone."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and specific applicability (all models fitted with non-reinforced plastic control wheels) — limits scope.","Simple, single diagnostic action required (visual inspection for cracking) rather than multiple conditional procedures.","Mandatory replacement before further flight where cracks are present — clear operational trigger.","Compliance interval is a single, straightforward metric (every 100 hours TIS after 31 December 1970).","Ambiguity in subjective terms: no detailed definition of what constitutes a crack, 'serviceable item', or what a satisfactory visual inspection entails.","Recommendation (metal-reinforced replacement) is non-mandatory, leaving a choice and potential cost/benefit assessment to operators.","No prescription of record-keeping, testing standards, or approval process for alternative compliance — leaves practical discretion to maintenance personnel."],"plain_english_summary":"What this directive does (mechanics)\n\n- Requires a visual inspection of all non-reinforced plastic control wheels fitted to Beechcraft 65 and 70 (Queen Air) series aeroplanes for cracking. (Requirement)\n- Mandates that any control wheel found to have cracks must be replaced with a serviceable item before the aircraft may fly again. (Requirement)\n- Recommends, but does not require, that replacements be of the metal-reinforced type. (Requirement)\n- Sets the inspection interval at no more than every 100 hours time in service, effective after 31 December 1970. (Compliance)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Owners and operators of Beechcraft 65 and 70 series aircraft that are fitted with non-reinforced plastic control wheels. (Applicability)\n- Maintenance personnel and certifying staff who perform the inspections and approve replacements. (Requirement)\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical implications)\n\n- The directive requires ongoing checks for cracking in a specific component (the plastic control wheel) and prohibits further flight if cracking is present, thereby removing a potentially compromised part from service until replaced. (Requirement)\n\nCosts, incentives and who pays\n\n- The direct costs fall on aircraft owners/operators: time spent performing inspections at the specified interval and the cost of replacement wheels where cracking is found. (Compliance, Requirement)\n- Operators have an incentive to replace plastic wheels with the recommended metal-reinforced type to reduce the chance of recurrent replacements, but the recommendation is not mandatory so operators may choose based on cost, availability, or other operational considerations. (Requirement)\n\nCompliance burden and implementation details\n\n- The inspection required is a visual inspection; it is relatively simple to perform but is qualitative and can be affected by the skill and thoroughness of the inspector. The directive does not prescribe a specific inspection procedure or require non-visual testing. (Requirement)\n- Cracked items must be removed from service immediately (no further flight until replacement). This creates potential operational disruption and scheduling consequences for affected flights. (Requirement)\n- The compliance interval is time-in-service based (every 100 hours TIS), so tracking and maintenance scheduling systems must account for this interval. (Compliance)\n\nBureaucratic discretion and uncertain points\n\n- The directive leaves some practical judgments to operators and maintenance staff: what qualifies as a ‘‘crack’’ for grounding, what constitutes a ‘‘serviceable item,’’ and how thorough the visual inspection must be. The directive does not specify detailed acceptance/rejection criteria or non-destructive test methods. (Requirement)\n\nTrade-offs and likely behavioural effects\n\n- Operators facing limited budgets may opt to continue using replacement plastic wheels if available and cheaper, because the metal-reinforced option is only recommended, not mandated. (Requirement)\n- The requirement to replace cracked wheels before further flight increases immediate operating costs when cracks are found but reduces the risk of in-flight control problems associated with a cracked wheel by removing the item from service. (Requirement)\n\nSource citations\n\n- The statements above are drawn from the instrument text headings and clauses: Applicability (which aircraft/components are covered), Requirement (inspection, replacement and recommendation), and Compliance (inspection interval and effective date)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-beech-65-17-amdt-1-plastic-control-wheel-inspection/documents"}}