AD/PA-31/101 Amdt 4 Flap Travel Restriction and Wing Flap Flexible Drive Shaft (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/101 Amdt 3 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-31/101 Amdt 4 Flap Travel Restriction and Wing
Flap Flexible Drive Shaft 8/2008

Applicability:	All models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350 and PA-31P with S/Nos referenced in Piper SB No 739 and Piper SL 959 or with S/Nos referenced in subsequent issues of these documents.
Requirement:	Case 1:   Aircraft which have not incorporated modifications detailed in Piper SL No. 959.  Action in accordance with:
1.    Piper SB No. 739, and
2.    Piper SL No. 958.
Case 2:   Aircraft which have incorporated modification detailed in Piper SL No. 959 Part I or Part II.
1.    SL No. 959 Part I terminates inspections detailed in AD/PA-31/51 Amdt 1 and relieves compliance with SB No. 739 and SL No. 958.
2.    SL No. 959 Part II:  Inspect in accordance with SB No. 739 Part II.
Note:  FAA AD 82-27-13(a) refers.
Compliance:	Case 1:
1.    As detailed in the Requirement Documents, with effect from 20 April 1982.
2.    Within 100 hours time in service after 28 February 1983 on aircraft which have installed Piper Kit 764 396 or 764 397 with an issue date 5 March 1982 in compliance with Piper SB No. 739 Part III dated 1 March 1982.
Case 2:
1.    No action required.
2.    Within 500 hours time in service from incorporation of Piper SL No. 959 Part II and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service.
This Amendment becomes effective on 31 July 2008.

Background: Piper SL No. 959 introduces an optional flap control system which restores 40° flap movement and relieves the specific inspections of AD/PA-31/51 Amdt 1.  Amendment 3 was raised to clarify action required after embodiment of Piper SL No. 959.  Amendment 4 is raised to correct the description in Requirement Case 2; and to delete references to flight manual amendments.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

13 June 2008