17 Jan 2012

CAA orders cable check on Beechcraft planes

3:21 pm on 17 January 2012

The Civil Aviation Authority has ordered that all Beechcraft planes be checked after a faulty cable snapped in an Australian plane as it was about to take off on Friday.

Twelve planes are in use in New Zealand. Their elevator cable will be checked at their next scheduled inspection, which is after every 50 hours of flying time.

The cables control the plane's pitch and the CAA has ordered they be replaced immediately if there is any damage.

The cables must also be replaced if they are more than 15 years old.

The single and twin-engine planes can carry up to six people, including the pilot.