AD/PA-22/1 - Landing Gear Reinforcement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia and enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aim to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. One such regulation, AD/PA-22/1, addresses a critical safety concern related to the landing gear reinforcement of Piper PA-22 (Tri-Pacer and Colt) series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of inadequate landing gear reinforcement in certain models of Piper PA-22 aeroplanes, thereby reducing the risk of structural failure during landing. The policy objective is to mandate immediate compliance with the specified landing gear reinforcement measures to enhance aircraft safety and prevent accidents arising from landing gear failure.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Piper PA-22 (Tri-Pacer and Colt) series aeroplanes, except for those with specific serial numbers (22-2377, 2379, 2385, 2389, 2391, 2394, and above) as outlined in the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-22/1 concerning landing gear reinforcement. This regulation is applicable to all aircraft operators and owners of the specified Piper PA-22 models, ensuring compliance with the safety directive to enhance the structural integrity of the landing gear. The directive mandates that compliance must be achieved forthwith, with reference to either Piper Service Letter No. 124 or FAA AD 55-7-2. The jurisdictional reach of these regulations is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, thus applying nationally and ensuring uniform safety standards across the aviation industry. The scope of the Civil Aviation Regulations extends to enforcing the Airworthiness Directive through subordinate instruments, which may include further clarifications or additional requirements. However, the primary directive AD/PA-22/1 itself does not provide for exclusions or exemptions but mandates strict compliance by the specified aircraft operators and owners. The regulation is comprehensive, leaving no room for deviation in ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the affected Piper PA-22 models, thereby maintaining high safety standards within the national airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically under Part 39, Section 105, sets forth a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the Piper PA-22 series aeroplanes. The directive AD/PA-22/1 pertains to the reinforcement of the landing gear on Piper PA-22 and PA-22-135 models, except those with specific serial numbers (Section 1). Compliance with this directive must be immediate, as indicated by the requirement to comply "forthwith" (Section 1). The directive references two documents for compliance: Piper Service Letter No. 124 or FAA AD 55-7-2 (Section 1). For the entities and parties governed by this directive, their obligations are to ensure that the landing gear reinforcement modifications are implemented as specified in either Piper Service Letter No. 124 or FAA AD 55-7-2. The directive applies to all Piper PA-22 and PA-22-135 aeroplanes except those with the serial numbers listed, and the modifications must be completed without delay to maintain compliance with airworthiness standards. This directive is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the landing gear and ensuring safe operation of the affected aircraft. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive AD/PA-22/1 can result in serious consequences. Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed on the operators or owners of non-compliant aircraft. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive itself but typically include fines, operational restrictions, or potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. These penalties are intended to enforce adherence to the safety regulations and to prevent any risk to flight safety due to non-compliance.