A snapped cable in a light aircraft in Australia
has sparked a safety notice from the Civil Aviation Authority of New
Zealand (CAA), requiring some Beechcraft plane operators to check their
flight control cables.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(CASA) issued a directive on Friday requiring owners and operators of
Beechcraft Debonair and Bonanza planes to replace any damaged flight
control cables before any more flights are taken.
"CASA decided to
issue this directive after damaged and frayed flight control cables
were recently discovered on two aircraft," the safety authority said in a
statement.
In a statement on Tuesday, the CAA said a cable had snapped in a Beechcraft plane in Australia before it took off.
The CAA has issued an airworthiness directive affecting Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair and Baron aircraft.
The
directive requires elevator cables to be checked at each aircraft's
next scheduled maintenance inspection - usually every 50 flying hours -
and, if damaged, the cables must be replaced immediately.
If the cables are in good condition but more than 15 years old, they must be replaced by March 18.
The CAA says it is unlikely the directive will be extended further across the Beechcraft fleet.
There are 12 affected planes in New Zealand, and hundreds in Australia.
The single and twin-engine planes can carry up to five passengers and a pilot.
NZN