COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-25/29 Wing Strut - Inspection 4/69
Applicability: All models with lift struts which have exceeded 1500 hours total time in service.
Requirement: Inspect the lower ends of the wing lift struts for cracking particularly in the threaded area of the rear spar attachment using at least a 10X glass.
Compliance: Within 100 hour time in service after 15 April 1969 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative instrument F2006B05565, specifically address the maintenance and safety standards for civil aviation within Australia. This legislation, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft, particularly focusing on specific models like the Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) series aeroplanes. One such regulation, AD/PA-25/29, mandates regular inspections of the lower ends of the wing lift struts for all models that have exceeded 1500 hours of total time in service. This was introduced to address the problem of potential cracking in the threaded area of the rear spar attachment, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The requirement to conduct these inspections using at least a 10X magnifying glass, within 100 hours of service after 15 April 1969 and at intervals not exceeding 500 hours thereafter, is a direct response to ensuring the safety and reliability of these aircraft in operation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, encompasses regulations applicable to all Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) series aeroplanes that have lift struts which have exceeded 1500 hours of total time in service. This regulation is designed to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating inspections of the lower ends of the wing lift struts, particularly focusing on any cracking, especially in the threaded area of the rear spar attachment. The inspection must be conducted using at least a 10X magnifying glass to ensure thoroughness. Compliance with this directive requires that inspections are performed within 100 hours of time in service following 15 April 1969 and then at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service thereafter. This regulation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform approach to maintaining the safety standards of these aircraft within the national airspace.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, contain specific directives related to the airworthiness of various aircraft models. One such directive, AD/PA-25/29, pertains to the Piper PA-25 (Pawnee) series aeroplanes and focuses on the inspection of the wing struts. Specifically, section 4/69 of this directive mandates that all models of Piper PA-25 aeroplanes with lift struts that have surpassed 1500 hours of total time in service must undergo inspection. The requirement is to inspect the lower ends of the wing lift struts, paying particular attention to the threaded area of the rear spar attachment, for any signs of cracking. This inspection must be conducted using at least a 10X magnifying glass to ensure that any minute defects are detected.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and precise. Operators of Piper PA-25 aeroplanes must ensure that the specified inspections are performed within 100 hours of time in service after 15 April 1969, the date the directive was issued. Following this initial inspection, the inspections must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service. This ensures that the wing struts are regularly checked for structural integrity, thereby maintaining the aircraft's airworthiness and safety standards.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/PA-25/29 could result in significant legal and safety repercussions. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can be considered a breach of the regulations. Such breaches may result in civil penalties, which can include fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties for these breaches can be substantial, reflecting the importance of adhering to safety directives to prevent potential aircraft accidents or incidents. It is therefore imperative that operators and maintenance personnel strictly follow the stipulated inspection intervals and procedures to avoid these severe consequences.