AD/PA-23/48 - Alternate Air Induction Hose - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, outlines the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. One such directive, AD/PA-23/48, pertains to the modification of the alternate air induction hose for specific models of Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address safety concerns related to the air induction system of turbocharged model PA-23-250 aeroplanes, particularly those with certain serial numbers, to prevent potential in-flight failures that could compromise the aircraft's operation. The objective of this directive is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft by mandating compliance with specific modifications within a stipulated timeframe. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 are enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and administered by CASA, with the overarching policy objective of maintaining and enhancing the safety standards in civil aviation. This particular directive aims to mitigate risks associated with the air induction system by requiring modifications to the alternate air induction hose, thereby ensuring that the aircraft meet the required safety standards to continue operations. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft models and serial numbers, to be completed within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1971.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the application of airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in Australian airspace. In this context, AD/PA-23/48 pertains to a specific modification of the alternate air induction hose for turbocharged model PA-23-250 aeroplanes, commonly known as the Apache and Aztec series. This directive applies to aircraft with specific serial numbers falling within a defined range. The requirement to comply with this directive is triggered within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1971. The regulation underscores CASA’s commitment to ensuring that these aircraft meet necessary safety standards, mandating compliance through either Piper Service Bulletin No. 334 or the Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 71-21-6. This legislation, with its specified applicability and compliance timelines, plays a crucial role in maintaining the safety and operational integrity of these aircraft within the Australian aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contains specific directives aimed at ensuring the safety of aircraft operations. In this context, AD/PA-23/48 addresses modifications required for the alternate air induction hose on Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) series aeroplanes (Section 1). The directive applies to turbocharged model PA-23-250 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 27-4053 to 27-4636 (Section 1). The compliance requirement is specified in Section 1, which mandates that these modifications must be made within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1971. The obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that the specified aircraft undergo the necessary modifications to their alternate air induction hoses. The compliance documentation can be sourced from either Piper Service Bulletin No. 334 or Federal Aviation Administration AD 71-21-6 (Section 1). These modifications are critical to maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft, and operators are required to adhere to the timelines and procedures outlined in the referenced documents to ensure their aircraft meet the regulatory standards. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/PA-23/48 may result in significant legal and safety implications. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose stringent obligations on aircraft operators to ensure that their aircraft are maintained in an airworthy condition. Non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive could lead to the grounding of the aircraft, refusal of airworthiness certification, and potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Additionally, operators may face civil or criminal penalties if their failure to comply results in safety incidents or breaches of aviation safety regulations.