AD/PA-23/58 Amdt 1 - Uncoordinated Manoeuvres - Warning Placard

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address the regulation of civil aviation within Australia, including the safety of aircraft. This legislative instrument, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, which are designed to ensure that aircraft meet safety standards. The policy objective of this regulation is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation by mandating that specific aircraft models comply with certain safety directives, such as the requirement for warning placards in Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes to prevent uncoordinated manoeuvres. Compliance with these directives is essential to ensure that the aircraft are operated safely and within the standards set by CASA. The legislative instrument AD/PA-23/58 Amendment 1, which pertains to the installation of warning placards for Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes, was introduced to address the specific safety concern of uncoordinated manoeuvres. This amendment applies to certain serial number ranges of the aircraft models and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1975. The enactment of this amendment by CASA is a direct response to identified safety risks, ensuring that these aircraft are operated within safe parameters as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, address the safety of aircraft in Australia by including specific directives for certain models of aircraft, such as the Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes. The legislation specifically applies to Model PA-23-250 with serial numbers ranging from 27-2322 to 27-2504 (fuel injected only) and Models PA-23-250 and PA-E23-250 with serial numbers from 27-2505 to 27-7405476. This directive mandates compliance with the safety requirements outlined in Piper Service Bulletin No. 456A, focusing on the addition of a warning placard regarding uncoordinated manoeuvres. Compliance is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1975. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying to all aircraft registered in Australia that meet the specified model and serial number criteria. This regulation is an extension of the broader Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring adherence to national safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes Airworthiness Directives that govern the maintenance and operation of certain aircraft. One such directive, AD/PA-23/58 Amendment 1, pertains to Piper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes (1). This directive applies to Model PA-23-250 with serial numbers between 27-2322 and 27-2504 (fuel injected only) and Model PA-23-250 and PA-E23-250 with serial numbers between 27-2505 and 27-7405476 (2). The directive mandates the installation of a warning placard regarding uncoordinated manoeuvres, as outlined in Piper Service Bulletin No. 456A (3). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 31 July 1975 (4). The obligations under this directive primarily involve the aircraft owners or operators ensuring that the specified warning placard is installed and maintained in accordance with the referenced service bulletin. This includes reviewing the aircraft's serial number to confirm applicability and scheduling the necessary maintenance to meet the compliance timeline. The warning placard must be installed as specified in the Piper Service Bulletin No. 456A, which likely includes instructions on the location and visibility of the placard to ensure that the information is readily available to the pilot during operation. Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-23/58 Amendment 1 may result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The penalties for non-compliance may include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until the directive is met. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, they are outlined in broader aviation regulations which can impose significant financial penalties and operational restrictions on non-compliant entities.