COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-28/43 Rudder Bar Assembly - Inspection and Modification 12/73
Applicability: All model PA-28 and PA-28R. Document: Piper SL No. 671.
Compliance: Inspect within 100 hours time in service after 31 December 1973 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until modified. Modify in accordance with SL No. 671 not later than first major inspection after 31 December 1973.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically PART 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD/PA-28/43) concerning the Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes, aimed at ensuring ongoing safety and airworthiness of these aircraft. This legislative instrument was enacted to address potential safety concerns related to the rudder bar assembly in the specified aircraft models, specifically Piper PA-28 and PA-28R, by mandating regular inspections and necessary modifications. The directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth) to enhance the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. The overarching policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the public from potential hazards associated with the identified issue.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended and specified in the Airworthiness Directive (AD/PA-28/43), apply to all Piper PA-28 and PA-28R model aeroplanes registered within the Commonwealth of Australia. This regulation mandates that these aircraft undergo an inspection of their rudder bar assembly within 100 hours of time in service following 31 December 1973, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until the necessary modifications are made. The modifications, which must adhere to Piper Service Letter No. 671, should be completed no later than the first major inspection following 31 December 1973. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is integral to maintaining the airworthiness of these specific aircraft models within Australia's aviation regulatory framework. The regulation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, implying that all affected aircraft must comply with the outlined inspection and modification requirements.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, address the mandatory requirements for airworthiness directives concerning specific aircraft types. Specifically, AD/PA-28/43 pertains to the Piper PA-28 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the rudder bar assembly (section 12/73). This directive applies to all models of the PA-28 and PA-28R series (section 12/73). According to the document Piper SL No. 671, the compliance requirement is to inspect the rudder bar assembly within 100 hours of time in service after 31 December 1973, and then continue to inspect at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service until the modification is completed (section 12/73). Furthermore, the modification must be performed in accordance with the specifications laid out in Piper SL No. 671, and this must occur no later than the first major inspection after 31 December 1973 (section 12/73).
The obligations imposed by this airworthiness directive include a rigorous inspection regime for the rudder bar assembly of the specified aircraft models. Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the inspection is conducted within the prescribed timeframes and intervals to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (section 12/73). Additionally, operators must follow the modification guidelines provided in Piper SL No. 671 to ensure the rudder bar assembly meets the necessary safety standards (section 12/73). These obligations are critical to preventing potential safety hazards associated with the rudder bar assembly in these aircraft models.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/PA-28/43 can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an airworthiness directive can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Specifically, operators found in breach of these regulations may face fines, imprisonment, or both. The maximum penalties can be substantial, reflecting the importance of adhering to these safety directives. Civil penalties can include fines up to $202,800 for individual offenders and $1,014,000 for corporate offenders, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment for up to five years for individuals and a fine of up to $5,070,000 for corporations (section 12/73). These stringent measures underscore the critical nature of compliance with airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of all air travel.