AD/PA-22/34 - Shimmy Damper

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), form a crucial part of Australia's aviation safety framework. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the regulations outlines Airworthiness Directives (ADs) aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. AD/PA-22/34 targets Piper PA-22 series aeroplanes, namely Tri-Pacer and Colt models, to address a critical safety issue with the shimmy damper. Enacted to ensure the reliability and safety of these aircraft, the directive mandates the replacement or inspection of the shimmy damper to prevent potential loss of rudder control during a maximum left turn. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with defective shimmy dampers, thereby enhancing flight safety and compliance with aviation standards. This legislative instrument, F2006B05439, was introduced to tackle the problem of shimmy dampers in Piper PA-22 aeroplanes, which could potentially jam during a maximum left turn, leading to partial or total loss of rudder control. The AD specifies the models and serial numbers of the aircraft that fall under this directive and requires compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 924. The directive underscores the importance of timely action to replace or inspect the shimmy damper, ensuring that the affected aircraft remain airworthy and safe for operation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/PA-22/34 concerning the Piper PA-22 (Tri-Pacer and Colt) Series Aeroplanes, applies to aircraft of the specified models and serial numbers that are equipped with a shimmy damper. This legislative instrument pertains to the safety of aircraft operations by mandating compliance with the directive to mitigate the risk of rudder control loss due to a potentially defective shimmy damper. The directive applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, reflecting the overarching jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in regulating aviation safety. Compliance is mandatory for the specified models and serial numbers, requiring action in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 924 before the next Maintenance Release following 30 April 1990. This directive ensures that all applicable aircraft are either serviced or the shimmy damper is replaced to maintain operational safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD). This includes AD/PA-22/34, which pertains to Piper PA-22 (Tri-Pacer and Colt) series aeroplanes. This AD addresses the shimmy damper issue, as outlined in section 2/90. The directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the Tri-Pacer and Colt aeroplanes, particularly those equipped with certain shimmy damper parts (sections 2/90, applicability). The requirement is for actions to be taken in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 924, which involves either replacing the early model dampers or conducting a serviceability check on later model dampers (section 2/90, requirement). This legislation imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected Piper PA-22 aeroplanes. They must ensure compliance with the AD/PA-22/34 directive by taking action as specified in Piper Service Bulletin No. 924 (section 2/90). This means that before the next Maintenance Release is issued after 30 April 1990, the necessary actions must be completed to address the shimmy damper issue. Failure to comply with these obligations could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could have significant legal and safety ramifications (section 2/90, compliance). Failure to comply with the AD/PA-22/34 directive can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline that non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which can result in enforcement actions being taken by CASA. Additionally, the potential risk of a shimmy damper failure during a maximum left turn could lead to partial or total loss of rudder control, increasing the risk of accidents. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, it is clear that the consequences could include significant safety risks, potential grounding of the aircraft, and possible enforcement actions by CASA.