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-31/108 Aft Bulkhead, Fuselage Stn. 332.0 2/85 TLX
Applicability: All models PA-31P with S/Nos 31P-3 to 31P-7730012 which have achieved 1000 hours or more time in service.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Piper SB No. 802.
Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 9 January 1985 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 200 hours time in service until either reinforcement kit, Piper P/No. 764- 983 or reinforced replacement bulkhead, Piper P/No. 45583-16 is installed.
Background: The manufacturer reports instances of cracking in the AFT fuselage bulkhead.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the regulation of airworthiness directives for civil aviation safety in Australia. This regulation, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, was introduced to ensure the safety of aircraft by mandating compliance with specific directives that address identified safety issues. The particular directive in question, AD/PA-31/108, applies to Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes and requires action concerning the aft bulkhead at fuselage station 332.0, focusing on models PA-31P with certain serial numbers that have accumulated 1000 hours or more in service. The directive mandates compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 802, requiring action within 25 hours after 9 January 1985 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 200 hours, to address reported instances of cracking in the aft fuselage bulkhead.
The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain high safety standards in civil aviation by ensuring that aircraft meet specific maintenance and repair requirements as identified by the manufacturer or the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This legislative instrument is part of the broader framework designed to mitigate risks associated with aviation safety, providing clear and enforceable guidelines to ensure the reliability and safety of aircraft operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, establishes directives concerning the airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australia. In this context, Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-31/108 pertains to Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, specifically those models identified as PA-31P with serial numbers ranging from 31P-3 to 31P-7730012 that have accumulated 1000 hours or more of operational time. This directive applies to the aft bulkhead at fuselage station 332.0 and mandates actions in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 802. Compliance is required within 25 hours of time in service following 9 January 1985, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 200 hours of time in service until the specified reinforcement kit or a reinforced replacement bulkhead is installed. This regulation ensures that the identified models maintain their airworthiness and structural integrity by addressing reported instances of cracking in the aft fuselage bulkhead, thereby enhancing safety in civil aviation operations within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) that pertain to various aircraft types, including the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/PA-31/108, concerns the aft bulkhead of the fuselage, specifically at Station 332.0 (section 1). This directive applies to all Piper PA-31P models with serial numbers 31P-3 to 31P-7730012 that have accumulated 1000 or more hours of service (section 2). The directive mandates that actions must be taken in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 802 to address reported instances of cracking in the aft fuselage bulkhead (section 3). Compliance with this directive requires that the specified actions be completed within 25 hours of service after 9 January 1985, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 200 hours of service, until either the reinforcement kit, Piper P/No. 764-983, or a reinforced replacement bulkhead, Piper P/No. 45583-16, is installed (section 4).
The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties include ensuring that the aircraft's aft bulkhead is inspected and reinforced or replaced as necessary to mitigate the risk of cracking. Operators of the affected aircraft must adhere to the specified timelines for compliance, which entails conducting the required actions within 25 hours after the directive's effective date and then at intervals not exceeding 200 hours of service (section 5). This ensures that the aircraft remains airworthy and compliant with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) standards.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties in the directive itself but imply that non-compliance could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Such actions could include fines, penalties, or other regulatory measures to compel compliance and ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. The exact penalties would be determined based on the specific circumstances and the extent of non-compliance, as outlined under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (section 6).