COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-31/104 Elevator Outboard Hinge Installation 7/82
Applicability: All models PA-31P with S/Nos. 31P-3 to 31P-7730012. Requirement: Action in accordance with Piper SB No. 737.
Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, inspect within 25 hours time in service after 3 June 1982.
2. If single piece hinge installations are installed, reinspect at intervals not exceeding 10 hours time in service until installation of kit 764381.
3. Replace single piece hinge installations by kit 764381 before 30 June 1982. Background: The manufacturer reports failures of the single piece elevator outboard hinge.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules governing civil aviation safety, including the issuance of airworthiness directives. One such directive is AD/PA-31/104, introduced to address safety concerns related to the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, specifically the single piece elevator outboard hinge installations. This directive was implemented to mitigate the risk of failures in the outboard hinge, which could potentially compromise the safety of flight operations. The policy objective is to ensure that all affected aircraft are inspected, reinspected as necessary, and modified to prevent any such failures, thereby maintaining the highest safety standards in civil aviation.
This directive, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, mandates specific actions for aircraft operators of Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, such as conducting inspections within 25 hours of service after 3 June 1982, and ensuring that single piece hinge installations are replaced by a specified kit before 30 June 1982. The directive also requires reinspection at intervals not exceeding 10 hours of service until the replacement kit is installed, ensuring ongoing safety compliance and addressing the identified safety issue effectively.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, applies to all Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, with a particular focus on models PA-31P with serial numbers ranging from 31P-3 to 31P-7730012. This regulation is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains to the mandatory inspection and replacement of the elevator outboard hinge to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft. The directive applies to any person or entity operating these specific Piper PA-31P models within the Commonwealth of Australia, as CASA oversees aviation safety regulations at the national level. The directive does not explicitly exclude any specific parties or circumstances but requires strict compliance by all operators of the affected aircraft.
This regulation mandates that inspections be conducted within 25 hours of service after 3 June 1982, with subsequent reinspections at intervals not exceeding 10 hours until the installation of kit 764381. The directive requires that single piece hinge installations be replaced by the aforementioned kit before 30 June 1982. Compliance with these provisions is essential to address the reported failures of the single piece elevator outboard hinge, as specified by Piper SB No. 737. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may also extend or restrict the application of these directives through subordinate instruments as deemed necessary by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a schedule of airworthiness directives concerning various types of aircraft. One such directive, AD/PA-31/104, pertains to the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the elevator outboard hinge installation (section 7/82). This directive applies to all models of the PA-31P with serial numbers ranging from 31P-3 to 31P-7730012. The directive mandates that these aircraft must comply with Piper Service Bulletin No. 737 to address the reported failures of the single piece elevator outboard hinge.
Under this directive, operators of the specified Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes are required to inspect the elevator outboard hinge installations within 25 hours of service time after 3 June 1982, unless this inspection has already been completed. For aircraft equipped with single piece hinge installations, a more stringent requirement is imposed. These installations must be reinspected at intervals not exceeding 10 hours of service time until the installation of kit 764381. Furthermore, it is mandatory for these single piece hinge installations to be replaced with kit 764381 before 30 June 1982.
Compliance with these requirements is crucial to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. Failure to adhere to these directives could result in significant safety risks, potentially leading to severe consequences in flight operations. Operators must meticulously follow these prescribed inspection and replacement procedures to mitigate the risk of hinge failures that could compromise the aircraft's control and stability.
Breach of the provisions outlined in this airworthiness directive can result in serious legal and safety repercussions. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance and may take action against operators who fail to adhere to these regulations. This could include enforcement actions, fines, and potentially grounding of the affected aircraft until compliance is achieved. The gravity of non-compliance underscores the importance of strict adherence to the specified requirements to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation.