Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR), enacted by the Australian Parliament, regulate numerous aspects of civil aviation, including aircraft airworthiness. Specifically, Part 39, which concerns airworthiness directives, addresses safety issues through detailed regulatory measures. One such directive, AD/PA-31/109, was introduced to tackle the problem of potential failure of the landing gear upper bearing retaining pins in Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, which could lead to unrestricted extension of the piston tube and wheel assemblies, posing significant safety risks. This directive, mandating compliance within 100 hours time in service after 31 October 1985, aligns with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 85-08-05, and requires actions in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No 779A, including the replacement of retaining pins and the inspection and replacement of the upper bearing as necessary. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the continued safe operation of affected aircraft by mitigating the risk of landing gear failure.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the civil aviation safety authority and applies to the Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes as detailed in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. The regulation is targeted at all model PA-31 aeroplanes with serial numbers as listed in Piper Service Bulletin No. 779A. This legislation mandates compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 779A, referencing FAA AD 85-08-05, and requires the specified action to be taken within 100 hours of the aeroplanes' time in service after 31 October 1985. The directive is imperative to prevent potential failures of the landing gear upper bearing retaining pins, which could lead to unrestricted extension of the piston tube and wheel assemblies. The requirement includes the replacement of the retaining pins and, where necessary, the inspection and replacement of the upper bearing. This regulation, therefore, applies directly to the specified aeroplanes to ensure safety standards are met, with compliance necessary to avoid any operational risks.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) that are critical for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. The AD/PA-31/109 pertains to the Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes and mandates specific actions concerning the landing gear upper bearing retaining pins and strut assemblies (sections 39.105.010 and 39.105.020). According to this directive, all model PA-31 aircraft with serial numbers as listed in Piper Service Bulletin No. 779A must comply with the requirements outlined in the bulletin. The directive references FAA AD 85-08-05 for further details and compliance. The key requirement of AD/PA-31/109 is that owners and operators of the specified Piper PA-31 model aircraft must take action in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 779A. This action includes replacing the landing gear upper bearing retaining pins and inspecting and replacing the upper bearing as necessary (section 39.105.030). This directive is intended to prevent potential failure of the landing gear upper bearing retaining pins, which could lead to unrestricted extension of the piston tube and wheel assemblies, thereby ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Entities governed by this directive are required to ensure that the specified maintenance actions are completed within 100 hours of time in service after 31 October 1985 (section 39.105.040). This timeframe is crucial to avoid any potential safety risks associated with the failure of the landing gear components. Operators must maintain detailed records of all actions taken to comply with the directive, including the dates and serial numbers of the aircraft involved. These records must be made available for inspection by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) upon request. Failure to comply with AD/PA-31/109 may result in serious safety implications and could lead to civil or criminal penalties. According to the regulations, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in penalties under section 39.105.050 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The maximum penalty for non-compliance can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. Operators found to be in breach of this directive may face significant financial penalties and could also be subject to enforcement actions by CASA. Ensuring strict adherence to the requirements of AD/PA-31/109 is therefore critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.