CASA grounds Beechcraft Bonanza/Debonair fleet

CASA has grounded Australia's fleet of Beechcraft Bonanzas and Debonairs following the recent discovery of damaged and frayed flight control cables on two aircraft.

The grounding, which was issued on Friday evening last week, follows the release of a series of airworthiness directives that require Beechcraft Bonanza and Debonair aircraft control cables to be inspected before further flight.

The new requirements for mandatory flight control cable inspections could affect up to 270 aircraft around the country. Owners and operators of these aircraft must replace any damaged forward elevator control cables before further flights.

The directive allows one flight to be undertaken with only the pilot on board where that is necessary to move the aircraft to a location where the inspection can take place.

CASA is also requiring owners and operators of these aircraft to replace any control cables that have been in service for more than 15 years within the next 60 days.

Speaking to the ABC on the weekend, CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said there is a risk that the control cables could break – and that the problem is likely due to the age of these aircraft.

“If that happens, the nose of the aircraft will pitch down and the pilot will have a great deal of difficulty in controlling the aircraft,” he said. “It’s very important to do the inspections and replace cables if necessary.

“These aircraft first started to be built in 1947 - many of them go back to the 1960s and the 1970s. They’re a very solid workhorse-type small single-engine aircraft, but they’re getting old.”

Click here to read CASA’s airworthiness directive.