AD/PA-30/30 - Fuel Selector Valve - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were established to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. These regulations, particularly PART 39 - 105, are aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft, ensuring that they comply with safety standards. This legislation was introduced to address gaps in aircraft safety oversight and to provide a comprehensive framework for enforcing safety directives across the aviation industry. One of the key policy objectives of these regulations is to ensure that all aircraft meet stringent safety requirements, thus protecting both the public and the aviation industry. A specific focus of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), as exemplified by AD/PA-30/30 concerning Piper PA-30 and 39 series aeroplanes. This directive mandates the inspection of the fuel selector valve to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft. The directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the Piper PA-30 and PA-39 series and requires compliance within 50 hours after a specified date and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours. Such directives ensure that identified safety issues are systematically addressed and mitigated, contributing to overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, applies to the Piper PA-30 and PA-39 series aeroplanes, more commonly known as Twin Comanches. This Act mandates the inspection of the fuel selector valve for these aircraft, as outlined in the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-30/30, dated 10th October 1978. The directive is applicable to specific serial numbers, namely PA-30 with serial numbers ranging from 30-2 to 30-2000, and PA-39 with serial numbers ranging from 39-1 to 39-155. Compliance with these directives is crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft and ensuring safety standards are upheld. Pilots may perform and certify items 1 to 4 of the inspection, but the broader compliance requirements must be met within 50 hours of time in service following the directive date and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. This regulation underscores the importance of regular and thorough maintenance checks to prevent potential safety hazards in these aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, address the civil aviation safety authority's schedule of airworthiness directives for Piper PA-30 and 39 (Twin Comanche) series aeroplanes. Section AD/PA-30/30 focuses on the requirement to inspect the fuel selector valve for these models. The directive applies to specific serial numbers of these aircraft, namely, models PA-30 with serial numbers 30-2 to 30-2000 and models PA-39 with serial numbers 39-1 to 39-155. This inspection is documented in Piper Service Letter No. 851, Part A. These regulations mandate that the fuel selector valve inspection must be conducted within 50 hours of the aircraft's time in service following 30 October 1978. Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. For these models, items 1 to 4 of the inspection can be performed and certified by the pilot, as per the outlined procedures. The obligations imposed on the operators of these aircraft include ensuring that the specified inspections are carried out within the stipulated time frames. The aircraft must be grounded or removed from service if any issues with the fuel selector valve are detected and not resolved before the next allowable inspection interval. Operators must keep detailed records of all inspections and any corrective actions taken, as these records may be required for compliance verification by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives may result in penalties. The specific penalties are not detailed within the regulation but can include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other enforcement actions by CASA. The severity of the penalty will depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety risks.