AD/PA-25/21 Amdt 3 - Top Longeron - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the regulations establishes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes detailed requirements and modifications for ensuring the airworthiness of specific aircraft types. One such directive, AD/PA-25/21 Amendment 3, pertains to the Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) series aeroplanes, addressing structural integrity concerns by mandating modifications to the top longeron of certain models. This legislative instrument aims to fill the gap in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft by issuing specific directives that aircraft operators must comply with to ensure that the aircraft remain airworthy and safe for operation. The policy objective is to mitigate the risks associated with identified safety issues, thereby protecting the lives of passengers and crew as well as the general public.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, outlines specific airworthiness directives that are applicable to certain aircraft types, including the Piper PA-25 series aeroplanes. The directive AD/PA-25/21 Amendment 3 pertains to the top longeron modification and applies to the model PA-25-235 and its variants with serial numbers prior to 25-3732 that have not incorporated Piper Kit No. 756987 or have not been modified in accordance with a schedule approved by the Secretary. This legislation has a clear geographic and jurisdictional reach within the Commonwealth of Australia, as it falls under the purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. It mandates compliance with specific modification criteria based on the total time in service of the aircraft. For aircraft with less than 1000 hours of total time in service, the modification must be completed before the aircraft reaches 1000 hours, whereas for aircraft that have more than 1000 hours of total time in service as of 31 August 1971, the modification must be completed within 100 hours of time in service after that date. The directive references Piper Service Bulletin No. 341 for the required modifications.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, contains Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that are crucial for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. Within this framework, AD/PA-25/21 Amendment 3 pertains to the Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the top longeron modification (section 8/71). This AD applies to model PA-25-235 and its variants with serial numbers prior to 25-3732 that have not incorporated Piper Kit No. 756987 or have not been modified according to an approved schedule by the Secretary (section 1). Compliance with this directive is to be achieved through the implementation of Piper Service Bulletin No. 341. The obligations under AD/PA-25/21 Amendment 3 require specific actions based on the total time in service of the aircraft. For aircraft with less than 1000 hours of total time in service, the modification must be completed before the aircraft reaches 1000 hours (section 2). For aircraft that have more than 1000 hours of total time in service as of 31 August 1971, the modification must be carried out within 100 hours of service after that date (section 3). These requirements ensure that the structural integrity of the aircraft is maintained, thereby enhancing flight safety. Failure to comply with AD/PA-25/21 Amendment 3 can result in severe consequences. The regulations impose civil and potentially criminal penalties for non-compliance, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include substantial fines or other penalties as outlined in the regulations. The exact penalties can vary but are designed to enforce adherence to safety standards to protect public safety in aviation.