AD/PA-46/35 Current Limiters (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-46/35 Current Limiters 6/2009 DM

Applicability:	Model PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T aeroplanes with the following serial numbers:
Model	Serial Number
PA-46-350P PA-46R-350T	4636375 through 4636447 4692001 through 4692068
Requirement:	1.    Amend the Limitations Section of the aircraft flight manual (AFM) to insert the following statement.  This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the AFM.
“Operate Only under Day Visual Flight Rules (VFR).”
The AFM amendment may be carried out by the aircraft owner/operator provided that they hold at least a private pilot licence.
2.    Inspect the 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters for installation in the proper location by following the procedures in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) 2000 dated 16 September 2008.
3.    If, as a result of the Requirement 2 inspection, any current limiter is not in the proper location, reinstall the current limiter in the proper location in accordance with the procedures in SB 2000.
The AFM amendment may be removed when it has been verified that the current limiters are installed in the proper locations (Requirement 2) or when the current limiters have been reinstalled in the proper locations (Requirement 3).
Later revisions of the above SB, approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to FAA AD 2009-07-08, are considered acceptable for compliance with the equivalent Requirements of this Directive.
Note:  FAA AD 2009-07-08 Amdt 39 15867 refers.
Compliance:	For Requirement 1 - Before further flight after 5 May 2009.

For Requirement 2 - Within 100 hours time in service after 5 May 2009.
For Requirement 3 - Before further flight after the Requirement 2 inspection is accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 May 2009.
Background:	This Directive requires an inspection of the 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters to verify they are installed in the proper locations and correct the installation if the current limiters are not installed in the proper locations.  The Directive also limits operation to "only under day visual flight rules (VFR)'' until the current limiter installation is inspected and corrected.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

17 April 2009