COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-23/12
Amdt 1
Empennage - Inspection 8/71
Applicability: Models PA23 and PA160 with S/Nos. -231 to 23-1267.
Requirement: 1. Remove the tail cone, covers and fairing and visually inspect the elevator butt ribs and doubler plates and all castings listed below for cracks.
Part | Casting Part No. | Forging P/No. |
Elevator Torque Tube Bracket | 17033-00 & 17033-01 | 19407-00 |
Front Stabiliser Attachment | 17049-00 & 19253-00 | 19409-02 |
Rudder Torque Tube Horn | 17060-00 | 19405-00 |
Elevator Torque Tube Horn | 17066-00 | 19404-00 |
Rudder Torque Tube Bracket | 17062-00 | 19408-00 |
Fin Attachment Bracket | 17072-00 | 19406-00 or 19406-02 |
Note: All the forged parts listed have integral raised digit numbers therefore absence of raised digits will serve to identify the part as a casting.
2. Remove all castings listed in Para. 1 from the aircraft, clean thoroughly removing all paint, and inspect for cracks using an approved fluorescent or dye penetrant method. Prior to reinstallation of airworthy castings, they shall be thoroughly cleaned and protected by application of zinc chromate primer.
Re-assembly shall be accomplished in accordance with Piper SB No. 155B.
Note: When any casting is replaced by its respective forging listed above the repetitive inspections of Paras. 1 and 2 are no longer required for that part.
Compliance: For Para. 1 - For castings previously inspected in accordance with the original issue of this Directive - at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service from the preceding inspection. For all other castings - within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1971 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.
For Para. 2 - For castings with more than 1000 hours time in service as at 31 August 1971 - within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1971 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Airworthiness Directive (AD/PA-23/12) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was enacted to address the specific safety concerns related to the Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to ensure that the aircraft's empennage, particularly the elevator butt ribs, doubler plates, and various castings, are inspected for cracks to prevent potential structural failures. The directive applies to models PA23 and PA160 with serial numbers ranging from -231 to 23-1267. The primary objective of this legislation is to enhance the safety of air travel by mandating thorough and regular inspections of critical components of these aircraft models.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105 and the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandate specific inspection requirements for the Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes. The regulations apply to models PA23 and PA160 with serial numbers ranging from -231 to 23-1267, focusing on ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating inspections of certain components. The scope of this legislation extends to all aircraft within the specified serial number range, thereby impacting operators and owners of these aircraft. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it applies across the Commonwealth of Australia under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. There are no exclusions or exemptions stated within the directive; all affected aircraft must comply with the outlined inspection intervals and procedures. The application of these regulations can be further extended or detailed through subordinate instruments, but the primary focus remains on ensuring the safety of the specified Piper aircraft through regular and rigorous inspections of critical structural components.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, details an Airworthiness Directive concerning Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes. The directive (AD/PA-23/12 Amdt 1) focuses on the inspection of the empennage, which includes the elevator butt ribs, doubler plates, and various castings. According to section 8/71, the directive applies to models PA23 and PA160 with serial numbers ranging from -231 to 23-1267. The primary requirement is a thorough visual inspection of these components to detect any cracks (section 1). Additionally, all listed castings must be removed, cleaned, and inspected using an approved fluorescent or dye penetrant method (section 2). Once inspected, these castings should be reassembled following Piper Service Bulletin No. 155B, with any replaced castings being thoroughly cleaned and primed with zinc chromate before reinstallation.
The obligations under this directive are clearly defined in terms of inspection intervals. For castings previously inspected, the requirement is to inspect them at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service from the preceding inspection (section 1). For all other castings, inspections must occur within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1971 and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours (section 1). For castings with more than 1000 hours of time in service as of 31 August 1971, inspections must occur within 100 hours of that date and then at intervals not exceeding 500 hours (section 2). This ensures that all components are regularly checked for safety compliance.
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant consequences. The directive does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance within the provided text, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations generally can lead to civil or criminal penalties. These may include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft, impacting the operator's ability to fly the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The severity of penalties can depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and may be enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.