AD/PA-31/120 Amdt 1 - MLG Actuator Reinforcement Bracket

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, form a comprehensive legal framework governing aviation safety, and include specific airworthiness directives to ensure aircraft meet safety standards. Part 39 of these regulations, specifically addressing airworthiness directives for certain aircraft, was introduced to address safety concerns and maintain airworthiness standards. One such directive is AD/PA-31/120, which was enacted to address the issue of cracked main landing gear actuator reinforcement brackets on Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. This amendment was introduced following reports of structural failures, including an incident where the main landing gear extended during flight, necessitating urgent safety measures. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by mandating specific maintenance actions, thereby protecting passengers and crew.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are regulatory requirements designed to ensure that aircraft meet safety standards. This particular regulation, AD/PA-31/120 Amendment 1, targets the Piper PA-31 series of aeroplanes, including models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31P-350, PA-31T, PA-31T1, PA-31T2, and PA-31T3, with specified serial number ranges. The directive applies to all these models and serial numbers, mandating the replacement of the main landing gear actuator reinforcement bracket part number 40776-00 with a new part number 73786-02, in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin 923. The directive applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and is effective from 22 May 1997, with compliance required within 100 hours of time in service after this date. This amendment corrects an earlier issue where certain Piper Model PA-31 aircraft were incorrectly designated as Piper Model PA-31-310 and adjusts the serial number ranges for other models. The initial issue of this Airworthiness Directive was effective from 3 September 1994.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (subsections AD/PA-31/120 Amendment 1), address the reinforcement of main landing gear actuator brackets on Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. These regulations require the replacement of any main landing gear actuator reinforcement bracket that currently has part number 40776-00 with a new bracket with part number 73786-02. This change must be carried out in accordance with the instructions detailed in Piper Service Bulletin 923 (subsections Requirement). These regulations apply to specific models and serial number ranges of the Piper PA-31 series, including the PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31P-350, PA-31T, PA-31T1, PA-31T2, and PA-31T3 (subsections Applicability). The directive necessitates compliance within 100 hours of the aeroplanes being in service after the amendment's effective date of 22 May 1997, unless the required replacement has already been completed (subsections Compliance). The original directive was effective as of 3 September 1994. The obligations imposed by these regulations require owners and operators of the specified Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes to ensure that the main landing gear actuator reinforcement brackets are replaced as per the directive. This includes adhering to the instructions in Piper Service Bulletin 923 and ensuring that the replacement is carried out within the stipulated timeframe. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant safety risks, as highlighted by previous reports of cracked brackets leading to potential in-flight incidents (subsections Background). Breach of these regulations can lead to various consequences, both civil and criminal. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may issue enforcement actions, which could include fines, orders for compliance, or other regulatory actions. The severity of the penalty depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance. In cases of serious breaches that endanger safety, the penalties can be severe, with potential maximum penalties including substantial fines and, in the most severe cases, imprisonment (subsections Offences, Penalties, Consequences).