AD/PA-28/88 Amdt 3 - Aft Centre of Gravity Restriction

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically within Part 39 - 105, address the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This regulation was enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft operations by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the body responsible for the administration and enforcement of these regulations. The particular legislative instrument F2006B05642 (AD/PA-28/88 Amdt 3) pertains to Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes and was introduced to address a safety concern identified with the aft centre of gravity restriction of these aircraft. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate the risk of an undesirable roll tendency during stall conditions by ensuring the aircraft's wing tips are correctly aligned or by installing stall strips as an alternative. This safety directive mandates that operators of certain PA 28-161 and PA 28-181 aircraft must either align their wing tips in accordance with an approved engineering order or install stall strips as specified in Piper Service Bulletin No 916B. Additionally, it requires the removal of any cockpit placards or temporary flight manual amendments that restrict the aft centre of gravity limit once the corrective actions have been completed. The directive aims to ensure that these aircraft do not exhibit a tendency to roll right before or during stall, thereby enhancing flight safety and compliance with CASA standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety of Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes with an Airworthiness Directive concerning aft centre of gravity restrictions. This legislation applies to all PA 28-161 and PA 28-181 aircraft listed by serial number in Piper Service Bulletin No 916B, excluding those that have already incorporated Amendment 2 of the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-28/88. The directive aims to mitigate an undesirable tendency for the aircraft to roll to the right during or just before a stall, which may lead to significant bank angles. The requirements under this directive mandate either the alignment of wing tips in accordance with a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Engineering Order, or the installation of stall strips as per Piper Service Bulletin No 916B, followed by verification of improved stall handling characteristics. The directive also requires the removal of cockpit placards and temporary Flight Manual amendments that restrict the aft centre of gravity limit. Compliance with these directives must be achieved by 1 September 1991. The regulation's scope is national, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and it extends to all aircraft within the specified parameters in Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, contain specific directives for the airworthiness of Piper PA-28 Series aeroplanes, including amendments to address aft centre of gravity restrictions. Section AD/PA-28/88 Amendment 3 is particularly relevant, focusing on ensuring the safety of PA 28-161 and PA 28-181 aircraft models. These models, as listed by serial number in Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No 916B, are subject to specific safety measures unless they have already incorporated Amendment 2 of AD/PA-28/88. The directive requires two main actions: either aligning the wing tips in accordance with a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Engineering Order, or installing stall strips in accordance with Piper SB No 916B and ensuring improved stall handling characteristics. These actions effectively eliminate the need for a temporary aft centre of gravity restriction. Additionally, any cockpit placard or temporary flight manual amendments that restrict the aft centre of gravity limit must be removed. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with a specific deadline set for 1 September 1991. The necessity for these measures arose from observations by Piper Aircraft Corporation, which identified a potential issue with the identified PA 28 aircraft exhibiting a tendency to roll to the right before and/or during a stall, reaching up to a 60º bank angle. This issue was traced to the incorrect alignment of the wing tips. The initial directive had imposed a temporary aft centre of gravity restriction, which has since been superseded by the more permanent solutions outlined above. Entities governed by these regulations, particularly those responsible for maintaining and operating PA 28-161 and PA 28-181 aircraft, must adhere to these directives to ensure compliance. This involves ensuring that wing tips are aligned correctly or that stall strips are installed as specified. The CAA's approved Engineering Order from NAVAIR, accessible via telephone at 02-7900942, provides the necessary guidelines for achieving the required alignment. Furthermore, operators must ensure that any cockpit placards or temporary flight manual amendments restricting the aft centre of gravity are removed to comply with the regulations. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in significant consequences. Non-compliance could potentially lead to safety risks, including the possibility of the aforementioned roll tendencies during critical flight phases. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the provided text, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory penalties designed to enforce compliance and ensure the safety of aircraft operations.