Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, encompass the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The enactment of this regulation aimed to address safety concerns associated with the operation of deicing boots on Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes. The policy objective is to ensure that aircraft maintain their airworthiness and safety standards, particularly in conditions where ice accumulation poses a risk. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the delegate, issued Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-31/128 on 7 July 2000, to mandate the activation of wing and tail leading edge pneumatic deicing boots at the first sign of ice formation or upon ice detector annunciation, ensuring continuous operation to minimise ice accretions. This directive applies to all Piper PA-31 models equipped with such systems and requires compliance within 10 calendar days from the effective date of the directive.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes equipped with pneumatic deicing boots, which includes models PA31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T, PA-31T1, PA-31T2, PA-31T3, and PA-31P-350. The directive mandates that these aircraft must have their Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) revised to include specific instructions regarding the operation of the wing and tail leading edge pneumatic deicing boot system, ensuring it is activated at the first sign of ice formation or upon ice detector annunciation. This directive applies nationally across Australia and is enforceable by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with compliance required within 10 calendar days from the directive's effective date of 13 July 2000. The requirement is designed to prevent ice adhesion and improve aircraft controllability during flight.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39, specifically Section 105, outlines Airworthiness Directives (ADs) pertinent to the operation of various aircraft types. One such directive, AD/PA-31/128, pertains to the Piper PA-31 series of aeroplanes, specifically those equipped with pneumatic deicing boots (section 1). The directive, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, mandates that these aircraft must adhere to specific protocols concerning the operation of deicing boots to ensure flight safety and airworthiness (section 2). The directive requires the aircraft's Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to be updated to include detailed instructions on when the deicing boots must be activated and when they can be deactivated, with specific reference to the phases of flight and the presence of ice (section 3). The AFM amendment must be completed by the aircraft's Certificate of Registration (CoR) holder, who is authorised to sign the aircraft logbook to confirm compliance with the directive (section 4). The obligations imposed by this directive require aircraft operators to ensure that their Piper PA-31 series aircraft, equipped with pneumatic deicing boots, comply with the outlined requirements. This involves updating the AFM to include the specific operational instructions for the deicing boots as stipulated in the directive (section 5). The requirement applies to all phases of flight except where the AFM explicitly states that deicing boots should not be used, such as during take-off, final approach, and landing (section 6). Operators must ensure that the deicing boots are activated at the first sign of ice formation or upon an ice detector system announcement and must remain active until the aircraft is confirmed to be clear of ice (section 7). Additionally, operators are encouraged to periodically treat the deicing boots with a deicing compound to reduce ice adhesion (Note 1). Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety risks, including reduced controllability of the aircraft due to ice build-up. The directive specifies a compliance period of 10 calendar days from the effective date, which is 13 July 2000 (section 8). Non-compliance with this directive can result in severe consequences, including potential enforcement actions by CASA, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s Certificate of Airworthiness, or other regulatory penalties (section 9). The directive also references the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 2000-06-06 Amendment 39-11646 for additional context (Note 2). The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 June 2000, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed of the new safety requirements (section 10).