{"id":"F2024L00281","name":"CASA 12/24 — Alternate Means of Compliance with Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4 Approval 2024","slug":"casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105126,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2024L00281-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA 12/24 — Alternate Means of Compliance with Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4 Approval 2024","content":"Instrument number CASA 12/24\n\nI, STEVEN JAMES CAMPBELL, Executive Manager, National Operations & Standards, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under paragraph 39.004(3)(a) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\n\\[Signed S. Campbell\\]\n\nSteven Campbell  \nExecutive Manager, National Operations & Standards\n\n4 March 2024\n\nCASA 12/24 — Alternate Means of Compliance with Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4 Approval 2024\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is CASA 12/24 — Alternate Means of Compliance with Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4 Approval 2024.\n\n2 Duration\n\nThis instrument:\n\n(a) commences on the day after it is registered; and\n\n(b) is repealed on the earlier of the following:\n\n(i) the end of 28 February 2025;\n\n(ii) the day AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4, as in force at the commencement of this instrument (the AD), is repealed or revoked.\n\n3 Alternate means of compliance for private operations aircraft\n\n(1) The following means of compliance with the AD other than that set out in the AD is approved for a relevant aircraft:\n\n(a) for an inspection due on or before 12 March 2024 under Requirement 2 in the AD, completion of the inspection by not later than 12 April 2024;\n\n(b) instead of the magnetic particle inspection required under Requirement 2 of the AD, removal of the wing bolts and performance of a detailed visual inspection of each wing bolt using a 10-power or stronger magnifying glass for corrosion, cracks, and mechanical damage and replacement of any wing bolt that is corroded, cracked or has mechanical damage;\n\n> Note 1 A magnetic particle inspection is required under both the Beechcraft Shop Manual and Beechcraft Maintenance Manual, as described in the AD, that are adopted by reference by Requirement 2 of the AD.\n\n> Note 2 The cadmium plating of a wing bolt may display areas that appear rubbed, discoloured, or polished. These areas are usually the result of prevailing installation procedures and are of no significance. A wing bolt should not be rejected because of cadmium plating deterioration.\n\n(c) the increase of the compliance time for Requirement 3 in the AD from 15 years to 20 years after the first installation of a new zero-time wing bolt.\n\n> Note All other requirements and compliance times stated in the AD remain unchanged.\n\n(2) In this section:\n\n> relevant aircraft means an aircraft to which the AD applies that is operated only in private operations.\n\n> Note private operation is defined in Part 1 of the CASR Dictionary.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument narrows the practical scope of the AD by approving alternate means of compliance only for aircraft ‘operated only in private operations’ (section 3(2)). It does not amend the AD itself; instead it permits specific departures from the AD’s Requirement 2 (inspection timing and method) and extends the compliance interval in Requirement 3 from 15 to 20 years for those private-operation aircraft (section 3(1)(a)-(c)). The alternates are temporary and expire either on 28 February 2025 or when the AD is repealed or revoked (section 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to an external instrument (AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4) whose substantive requirements remain the primary legal standard (section 3(1) and Note 1)","Temporal limitation and conditional repeal (commences on registration, ends on earlier of set date or AD repeal) (section 2)","Targeted scope limited to aircraft operated only in private operations, requiring use of defined term from CASR Dictionary (section 3(2))","Technical substitution of inspection method (magnetic particle inspection vs detailed visual inspection with 10x magnifier) with specific procedural steps (section 3(1)(b))","Mixture of short-term deferral, method substitution, and long-term interval extension (section 3(1)(a)-(c))","Operational compliance actions required (removal and inspection of wing bolts, replacement if defective) that carry practical maintenance implications (section 3(1)(b))","Delegated decision-making reference (instrument made under paragraph 39.004(3)(a)) which requires reading instrument header together with substantive provisions","Notes that reference manufacturer manuals adopted by the AD, creating dependency on external technical standards (section 3(1) Note 1 and Note 2)"],"plain_english_summary":"### What this instrument does, in plain language\n\n- This instrument (CASA 12/24) gives a limited, temporary alternative way for some Beechcraft 36/33 series aircraft to meet an existing Airworthiness Directive (AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4). It is made by a CASA delegate under paragraph 39.004(3)(a) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (instrument header). (Who decides: a CASA delegate signs the instrument.)\n\n- It only applies to aircraft that are operated only in private operations (the instrument calls these “relevant aircraft”) (section 3(2)). Commercial or other non-private operations are not covered by the alternate compliance in this instrument.\n\n- The instrument is temporary. It starts the day after registration and ends on the earlier of 28 February 2025 or the day the referenced AD is repealed or revoked (section 2).\n\nWhat changes mechanically (section 3(1))\n\n1. Short deferral of one inspection deadline: If an inspection required under Requirement 2 of the AD is due on or before 12 March 2024, a relevant aircraft operator may complete that inspection by 12 April 2024 (section 3(1)(a)).\n\n2. Alternative inspection method for wing bolts: Instead of the magnetic particle inspection required by Requirement 2 of the AD (and by the Beechcraft manuals adopted by the AD), a relevant aircraft operator may remove each wing bolt and perform a detailed visual inspection using a 10-power or stronger magnifying glass to check for corrosion, cracks, and mechanical damage; any bolt found corroded, cracked or mechanically damaged must be replaced (section 3(1)(b); Note 1 and Note 2 to section 3(1)(b)).\n\n3. Longer interval for one recurring requirement: The compliance interval in Requirement 3 of the AD is increased from 15 years to 20 years after the first installation of a new zero-time wing bolt for relevant aircraft (section 3(1)(c)).\n\n- All other requirements and compliance times in the AD remain unchanged (section 3(1) final Note).\n\nWhy the instrument exists (what it claims to do and what it changes)\n\n- The instrument does not include an explicit policy justification text. The mechanical effect is to permit private-operation aircraft to use a different, less-demanding inspection method for wing bolts, to delay one inspection deadline by up to one month, and to lengthen one long-term compliance interval from 15 to 20 years (section 3).\n\nPractical effects, incentives and trade-offs (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- Who pays / who acts: Operators of aircraft that are operated only in private operations decide whether to use these alternate measures. They bear any direct labour, parts and downtime costs of removing bolts, doing the visual checks, and replacing any faulty bolts (section 3(1)(b)).\n\n- Cost and time incentives: The instrument reduces some short‑term compliance cost or scheduling pressure by (a) allowing a one‑month extension for an imminent inspection (section 3(1)(a)), (b) replacing a magnetic particle inspection with a visual inspection using a magnifier (section 3(1)(b)), and (c) reducing the frequency of a recurring requirement by lengthening an interval from 15 to 20 years (section 3(1)(c)). These are concrete mechanisms that can lower immediate out-of-pocket expense, technician time, or aircraft downtime for private operators who choose them.\n\n- Substitution and sensitivity trade-off: The instrument explicitly permits departure from the magnetic particle inspection specified in the AD and the Beechcraft manuals (section 3(1)(b); Note 1). The change replaces a non-destructive test specified by the AD with a detailed visual inspection (section 3(1)(b)). That is a substitution of inspection method; any difference in defect-detection sensitivity between the two methods arises from that substitution (mechanism described in section 3(1)(b) and Note 1).\n\n- Compliance burden and actions required: Even though the instrument allows a visual method, it requires removal of wing bolts and use of a 10-power (or stronger) magnifying glass, and requires replacement of any bolts found with corrosion, cracks or mechanical damage (section 3(1)(b)). Removal and replacement are hands-on maintenance tasks that carry labour and parts costs.\n\n- Applicability limits and timing risk: The alternate means are explicitly limited to aircraft operated only in private operations (section 3(2)). The approvals are temporary and will lapse either on 28 February 2025 or when the AD is repealed or revoked, whichever is earlier (section 2). That creates a defined window in which private operators can rely on these alternate methods.\n\n- Regulatory hierarchy and discretion: The instrument is an approval by a CASA delegate under CASR paragraph 39.004(3)(a) (instrument header). It does not repeal or change the AD itself; it provides an approved alternate means of compliance for a subset of operators while the AD remains in force (section 2(b)(ii)).\n\nImplementation risks and opportunity costs (mechanisms to watch)\n\n- Operators choosing the alternate visual method accept the trade-off between the nominated visual procedure and the magnetic particle inspection specified in the AD and manufacturer manuals (section 3(1)(b); Note 1). Any change in defect-detection outcomes comes from that substitution of methods.\n\n- The one‑month deferral in (a) and the extended 20‑year interval in (c) reduce the short-term and long-term frequency or immediacy of compliance actions for relevant aircraft; those are concrete opportunity-cost savings for operators but they also change the timetable on which defects would be sought or acted on (section 3(1)(a) and 3(1)(c)).\n\nBottom line (mechanical):\n\n- CASA 12/24 temporarily authorises, for aircraft used only in private operations, a one‑month inspection deferral in one case, a visual-inspection-instead-of-magnetic-particle-inspection procedure for wing bolts (with bolt removal and mandatory replacement of damaged bolts), and an increase in one recurring compliance interval from 15 to 20 years (section 3). These alternate means are available only until 28 February 2025 or until the AD is repealed or revoked (section 2)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: providing alternative compliance methods for a specific airworthiness directive affecting Beechcraft 36 aircraft in private operations. It does not expand beyond this narrow technical remit."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (only 3 substantive sections)","Only 1 defined term ('relevant aircraft')","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to the underlying AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4 and CASR definitions)","Simple conditional structure (subsections (a), (b), (c) with straightforward alternatives)","No nested exceptions or complex logical operators","Clear sunset clause with simple 'earlier of' termination trigger"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a technical aviation safety approval issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that gives private aircraft owners a different way to comply with a specific safety directive.\n\n**What it does:**\nNormally, owners of certain Beechcraft 36 series aircraft must follow strict inspection rules set out in Airworthiness Directive AD/BEECH 36/43 Amdt 4. This instrument allows private operators (not commercial airlines) to use three alternative methods instead:\n\n- **Extended deadline:** If an inspection was due by 12 March 2024, private owners now have until 12 April 2024 to complete it.\n- **Simpler inspection option:** Instead of doing a magnetic particle inspection (a specialised test requiring equipment to detect cracks in metal), private owners can remove the wing bolts and check them with a strong magnifying glass (10x or stronger) for corrosion, cracks, or damage. Damaged bolts must still be replaced.\n- **Longer replacement interval:** Wing bolts can now be used for 20 years instead of 15 years before mandatory replacement, provided they were new when installed.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nPrivate owners and operators of Beechcraft 36 series aircraft subject to this airworthiness directive. Commercial operators must still follow the original strict rules.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis reduces costs and logistical burdens for private pilots while maintaining safety standards. The magnifying glass inspection is simpler and cheaper than magnetic particle testing, and the extended timelines give owners more flexibility. However, the instrument expires on 28 February 2025 or earlier if the underlying directive is revoked."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval","history":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-12-24-alternate-means-of-compliance-with-airworthiness-directive-ad-beech-36-43-amdt-4-approval/documents"}}