AD/BEECH 55/82 - Interior Door Handles (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Beechcraft 55, 58 and 95-55 (Baron) Series Aeroplanes

AD/BEECH 55/82 Interior Door Handles 12/97

Applicability: Models 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, E55, 58, and 58TC; all serial numbers.

Requirement: Check the cabin side door handle and the utility door handle from the interior of the aircraft for proper locking (rotating the door handle clockwise without depressing the lock release button) in accordance with the Accomplishment Instruction section of Raytheon Service Bulletin 2693.

(a) If the door handle opens the door when rotated, without depressing the handle's lock release button, correct the door handle lock by removing the door handle, and re-installing the door handle so that the lock release button locks the door in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section in Raytheon Service Bulletin 2693.

(b) If the door handle is locked and will only unlock by depressing the door handle lock release button, then no further action is necessary.

Note: FAA AD 97-14-15 Amdt 39-10073 refers.

Compliance: Unless already accomplished, within 50 hours' time in service after 6 November 1997 or at the next door handle removal after 6 November 1997, whichever occurs first; and thereafter at any time a utility or cabin interior door handle is removed.

This airworthiness directive becomes effective on 6 November 1997.

Background: The FAA received numerous reports of the utility and cabin door handle opening from the interior of the aircraft without depressing the lock release button. The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent unintentional opening of the cabin side door and the utility door from the interior of the aircraft. This could result in a loss of control caused by the distraction to the pilot.