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-31/125 Electrical Wiring and Fuel Line Chafing 2/95 DM
Applicability: All PA-31 series aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect all electrical wiring in the leading edge of both wings between the fuselage and engines, including the area directly behind both engine firewalls, for signs of electrical wire chafing. During the inspection pay special attention to the wiring located between WS 54 to WS 58.5. Repair or replace any chafed wiring prior to further flight. Submit a MDR on any wiring found chafed.
Compliance: At the next inspection after 23 December 1994 or by 28 February 1995, whichever occurs first.
Background: An in-flight fire in the leading edge of a PA-31-310 wing has been reported.
The fire occurred when chafing between an alternator output lead and/or the starter motor cable and the main tank fuel supply line occurred.
The chafing also caused complete electrical failure and shut down of an engine.
Subsequently, several other PA 31 aircraft were inspected by the operator. One exhibited a similar chafing problem.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include a series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) aimed at ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. One such directive, AD/PA-31/125, was introduced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address a specific safety concern identified in Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. The directive was issued following an incident where an in-flight fire in the leading edge of a PA-31-310 wing was traced to chafing between electrical wiring and fuel lines. This chafing not only caused the fire but also led to complete electrical failure and engine shut down. The policy objective of AD/PA-31/125 is to prevent such incidents by mandating regular inspections of the electrical wiring and fuel lines in the specified area of the aircraft to ensure there is no chafing, thus maintaining airworthiness and enhancing flight safety. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with inspections required by a specified date following the directive's issuance.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all PA-31 series aircraft, which includes any person or entity operating these aircraft within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislation mandates that inspections of all electrical wiring in the leading edge of both wings and the area directly behind the engine firewalls must be conducted to identify any signs of chafing, particularly between wing stations 54 and 58.5. Any detected chafing must be addressed by repairing or replacing the affected wiring before the aircraft can be flown again, and a mandatory defect report must be submitted for any chafed wiring discovered. Compliance with these directives is required at the next inspection after 23 December 1994, or by 28 February 1995, whichever comes first. This regulation extends to all PA-31 series aircraft regardless of the operator, and failure to comply can result in penalties as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/PA-31/125, pertains to the Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes and mandates specific inspections and repairs related to electrical wiring and fuel line chafing (Section 2/95). This directive applies to all PA-31 series aircraft and requires a thorough inspection of the electrical wiring in the leading edge of both wings, particularly between the fuselage and the engines and directly behind the engine firewalls. Special attention is directed to the wiring between WS 54 to WS 58.5. The directive requires that any chafed wiring be repaired or replaced before the aircraft is flown again, and a mandatory data report (MDR) must be submitted for any chafed wiring found during the inspection.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and require compliance by the aircraft operators. Operators must ensure that the inspections are conducted at the next scheduled inspection following 23 December 1994, or by 28 February 1995, whichever comes first. This compliance ensures that all PA-31 series aircraft are checked for the specified issues before further use. Failure to adhere to this directive could result in significant safety risks, including the potential for in-flight fires, electrical failures, and loss of engine function.
The consequences for non-compliance with this directive are severe. The regulations do not specify exact penalties within the directive itself, but general aviation regulations and subsequent amendments could impose significant civil or criminal penalties. Non-compliance could lead to fines, operational restrictions, or even criminal charges for endangerment, especially if the non-compliance results in an accident or serious incident. The severity of these penalties reflects the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.