AD/PA-23/27 - Wing Flaps - Inspection and Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, encompasses a schedule of airworthiness directives, including AD/PA-23/27, which addresses the inspection and modification of wing flaps for Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia, was enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of specific Piper PA-23 models by mandating regular inspections and necessary modifications. The policy objective of this regulation is to mitigate potential safety risks associated with the identified aeroplanes by enforcing timely compliance with the specified maintenance requirements. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this regulation was implemented to fill a critical gap in ensuring the safety of the identified Piper PA-23 models. By mandating inspections and modifications at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service after 25 May 1962, the legislation aims to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, apply to the Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers within the range of 27-1 to 27-451 inclusive and 27.453 to 27-504. The regulation is concerned with the maintenance of airworthiness directives, which mandate inspections and modifications to the wing flaps of the specified aircraft models. The applicability of this regulation extends to all relevant aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The compliance requirement necessitates inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service after the directive was issued on 25 May 1962, until the necessary modifications are completed. This regulation does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and its application is reinforced through subordinate instruments as necessary to ensure ongoing aircraft safety and compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives. These directives are crucial for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. In this context, AD/PA-23/27 pertains to the Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) series aeroplanes (Section 5/62). The directive applies to model PA-23-250 with serial numbers ranging from 27-1 to 27-451 inclusive, and from 27.453 to 27-504 (Section 27.453). This specific directive mandates a detailed inspection and modification of the wing flaps (Section 5/62). The main requirement of this directive is that compliance must be achieved at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service after 25 May 1962, until the necessary modifications are completed (Section 27.453). This involves adhering to the Piper Service Letter No. 363, which provides detailed instructions on the inspection and modification processes. The objective is to ensure that the aircraft’s wing flaps meet the specified safety standards, thereby reducing the risk of operational failures. Entities and parties governed by this directive, primarily aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel, must ensure that the required inspections and modifications are carried out within the specified timeframes. This involves not only performing the inspections but also implementing any necessary modifications to the wing flaps as outlined in the referenced service letter. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to severe operational consequences and potential legal ramifications. Breach of these provisions can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in various penalties. These can include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties can vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach. For instance, operating an aircraft that does not comply with airworthiness directives can attract fines of up to $165,294 for individuals and higher for corporations. Additionally, such breaches can lead to the suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, effectively grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved.