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-28/84 Nose Landing Gear - Inspection and Modification Parts I and II
5/82
Applicability: | PART I - | All models PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III S/Nos. 28R-7703001 to 28R- 7803373 and PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV S/Nos. 28R-7931001 to 28R- 8131193. |
| PART II - | All models PA-28R-200 Arrow II S/Nos. 28R-7635522 to 28R-7635545. All models PA-28R-201 Arrow III S/Nos. 28R-7737001 to 28R-7837317. All models PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV S/Nos. 28R-7918001 to 28R- 8118082. |
Document: Piper SB No. 724 Parts I and II.
Note: FAA AD 82-06-011 refers.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1982.
Background: There have been incidents involving inadvertent retraction of the nose landing gear. These incidents were caused by failures of various components of the nose landing gear retraction/extension system including the down lock, link and brace assemblies, actuator housings and attachment brackets.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted by the Australian Government to establish and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil aviation safety, ensuring the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. The legislation is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aims to address safety concerns and gaps in existing regulations to mitigate risks associated with civil aviation activities. One such regulation, AD/PA-28/84, was introduced to address specific safety issues identified with the nose landing gear system on Piper PA-28 Series aeroplanes, following incidents of inadvertent retraction due to component failures. The policy objective of this regulation is to mandate inspections and modifications to the nose landing gear system of certain Piper PA-28 models to enhance flight safety by preventing inadvertent gear retraction.
The Civil Aviation (Safety) Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are designed to ensure that all civil aviation operations within Australia adhere to stringent safety standards. Part 39 - 105 focuses on Airworthiness Directives, which are critical in addressing specific safety concerns identified with particular aircraft models or systems. Regulation AD/PA-28/84 targets the nose landing gear system of Piper PA-28 Series aeroplanes, including models PA-28R-201T, PA-28RT-201T, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-201, and PA-28RT-201. This directive was introduced in response to incidents where the nose landing gear inadvertently retracted during flight, resulting from failures in various components of the retraction/extension system. The requirement to comply with this directive within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1982 aims to enhance the structural integrity and safety of these aircraft by mandating necessary inspections and modifications.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, encompass specific directives under Part 39 - 105 which mandates the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for certain Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to specified serial numbers of Turbo Arrow III, Turbo Arrow IV, Arrow II, Arrow III, and Arrow IV models, ensuring that these aircraft meet stringent safety standards. The directive requires inspections and modifications to the nose landing gear to prevent inadvertent retraction, addressing failures in the down lock, link and brace assemblies, actuator housings, and attachment brackets, which have been implicated in past incidents. The applicability of these directives is governed by the aircraft's serial number, and compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1982. The regulation is enforced under the Commonwealth of Australia and applies nationally, with CASA overseeing adherence through enforcement of these airworthiness directives.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) for certain Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes. The AD/PA-28/84 (section 5/82) addresses the inspection and modification of the nose landing gear to mitigate incidents of inadvertent retraction. Part I of the directive applies to all models PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III with serial numbers (S/Nos) ranging from 28R-7703001 to 28R-7803373 and PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV with S/Nos from 28R-7931001 to 28R-8131193. Part II covers all models PA-28R-200 Arrow II with S/Nos from 28R-7635522 to 28R-7635545, PA-28R-201 Arrow III with S/Nos from 28R-7737001 to 28R-7837317, and PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV with S/Nos from 28R-7918001 to 28R-8118082. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1982, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 724 Parts I and II and FAA AD 82-06-011.
The AD/PA-28/84 directive imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected Piper PA-28 series aeroplanes. Owners and operators must ensure that the aircraft's nose landing gear undergoes thorough inspection and, if necessary, modification as per the directive. This includes verifying the integrity of the down lock, link and brace assemblies, actuator housings, and attachment brackets. Additionally, operators must document compliance with the AD within the specified timeframe to avoid any potential airworthiness issues.
Failure to comply with the AD/PA-28/84 directive may result in severe consequences, both civil and criminal. Civil penalties can include fines and the potential grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and modifications are completed. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance can also lead to prosecution with maximum penalties including substantial fines and imprisonment. It is essential for operators to adhere strictly to the directive to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.