AD/PA-28/62 - Fuel Selector Valve - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39, specifically, addresses various safety directives and requirements to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft, including the Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/PA-28/62, pertains to the inspection of fuel selector valves for specific models of Piper PA-28 aeroplanes, aiming to address potential issues related to fuel contamination or leaks that could compromise flight safety. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate regular inspections and maintenance to prevent operational hazards associated with the fuel system of these aircraft, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. The directive applies to Piper PA-28-235 model aeroplanes with specific serial numbers and equipped with certain types of fuel selector valves. The requirement involves a series of inspections and actions to ensure that the fuel selector valves are free from excessive water or fuel contamination. If contamination is detected beyond allowable limits, the directive mandates the cleaning or replacement of the fuel selector valve. Compliance with these inspections must occur within a specific timeframe after the directive's issuance and at regular intervals thereafter, ensuring ongoing aircraft safety and operational reliability.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument, Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to Piper PA-28 Series aeroplanes, particularly the model PA-28-235 with serial numbers ranging from 28-10001 to 28-6410093, which are fitted with specific Airborne fuel selector valves. The regulation is aimed at ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating periodic inspections and maintenance of the fuel selector valve to prevent potential fuel contamination issues. The requirement involves detailed steps for draining and inspecting the fuel selector valve, with the aim of ensuring that the collected fuel content does not exceed specified limits, which if breached, necessitates the replacement of the fuel selector valve with a specified Piper Fuel Valve Kit. This regulation applies to any person or entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of these aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby extending to both domestic and international flights if the aircraft are registered in Australia. The scope of this regulation is limited to the specified model of aeroplanes and serial numbers, and it does not apply to other aircraft models or serial numbers outside this scope. The regulation extends its reach through compliance mandates within a specific timeframe and recurring intervals, thereby ensuring ongoing airworthiness. The regulation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, implying that all applicable aircraft must adhere to the outlined procedures. Subordinate instruments may further detail the implementation and compliance protocols for this regulation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes a directive concerning the Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes (section 105). The directive, AD/PA-28/62, pertains to the inspection of the fuel selector valve for certain model numbers (section 2). The applicability of this directive is limited to the Piper PA-28-235 model with serial numbers ranging from 28-10001 to 28-6410093, which are equipped with specific Airborne Model fuel selector valves (section 3). To comply with this directive, the operator of the aircraft must follow several steps to ensure the fuel selector valve is functioning correctly. Initially, the operator must ensure that each fuel tank contains at least one gallon of fuel and carry out the standard pre-flight water drain checks (section 4(1)). With the fuel selector in the "OFF" detent, the operator must operate the fuel selector valve drain lever for one minute and discard the collected contents, repeating the process if necessary until all fuel is drained from the collector bowl (section 4(2)). After closing the drain valve and waiting for three minutes, the operator must drain the fuel selector for one minute into a graduated container (section 4(3)). If the collected fuel exceeds half a fluid ounce, the operator must clean and reinstall the fuel selector valve, then repeat step 3 (section 4(4)). If the fuel still exceeds half a fluid ounce after steps 3 and 4, the operator must replace the fuel selector valve with the specified Piper Fuel Valve Kit (section 4(5)). The directive imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft. Operators must ensure compliance within 25 hours of the directive's effective date, which was 31 July 1977, and must adhere to the periodic inspection intervals of no more than 100 hours until the specified fuel selector valves are fitted (section 5). The directive allows the pilot to perform and certify steps 1 to 3, but the subsequent steps, including the replacement of the fuel selector valve, must be carried out by certified personnel (section 6). Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, potentially leading to severe consequences including grounding of the aircraft and legal penalties. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive but could include fines, suspension of operating licenses, or other regulatory actions under the Civil Aviation Regulations.