AD/PA-28/35 Amdt 1 - Main Landing Gear Torque Links - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, is a comprehensive body of law that governs all aspects of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39 of these regulations, specifically Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses safety standards and compliance for various aircraft types, including the Piper PA-28 series. This particular legislation aims to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft by providing specific directives for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with standards. The policy objective behind these directives is to maintain high safety standards in civil aviation, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring the reliability of aircraft operations. The directive for Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes, specifically AD/PA-28/35 Amendment 1, pertains to the inspection of main landing gear torque links and applies to all models with fixed landing gear except those equipped with certain newer torque link assemblies. Compliance with these directives is mandatory as detailed in the relevant requirement documents to uphold the safety and operational integrity of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which concerns the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes with fixed landing gear, except those equipped with a torque link assembly P/N 78032-00V or later. This regulation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. It mandates that all specified aircraft undergo inspection of the main landing gear torque links, as detailed in the requirement document Piper SL No. 600, to ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. The scope of this legislation is limited to the aforementioned aircraft models, and compliance is mandatory for those falling within the specified parameters. The regulation may be further elaborated or modified through subordinate instruments, which can extend or restrict its application as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes. One key provision in this section is AD/PA-28/35 Amendment 1, which mandates inspections of the main landing gear torque links (Section 8/79). This directive applies to all models of the Piper PA-28 series with fixed landing gear, excluding those with torque link assembly Part Number (P/N) 78032-00V or any later P/N. Compliance with this directive is to be ensured as outlined in the requirement document provided by Piper, identified as Piper Service Letter No. 600. The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are clear and specific. Owners and operators of the affected Piper PA-28 aeroplanes must ensure that the main landing gear torque links are inspected according to the detailed procedures set out in Piper Service Letter No. 600. This inspection is crucial to maintaining the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft. Failure to adhere to the specified inspection requirements can compromise the airworthiness of the aeroplane and potentially lead to severe safety risks. In terms of enforcement and consequences, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline penalties for non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives. If an operator fails to conduct the mandated inspections or does not comply with the directive, they may be subject to enforcement actions by CASA. The potential penalties include fines and other civil or criminal consequences, depending on the severity of the non-compliance. Although specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the provided excerpt, it is clear that adherence to these directives is legally required and non-compliance can have significant legal ramifications.