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-31/22 Alternator Switch and Circuit Breaker
Panel Wiring - Inspection Applicability: Models PA-31 and PA-31-300 with S/Nos. 31-2 to 31-841. Document: Piper SL No. 631.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 30 April 1973.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. This legislation was enacted to ensure that all civil aviation operations, aircraft, and personnel meet the necessary safety standards, thereby mitigating risks associated with aviation activities. The regulations were established by the Australian Parliament under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and were designed to align with international aviation safety standards and practices, thereby fostering a safe and efficient civil aviation system. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to protect the public by enforcing stringent safety measures, thereby maintaining the highest possible level of safety in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically mandate the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of civil aviation. One such directive, AD/PA-31/22, applies to the Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, including the models PA-31 and PA-31-300, with serial numbers ranging from 31-2 to 31-841. This directive mandates an inspection of the alternator switch and circuit breaker panel wiring, to be carried out within 100 hours of time in service following the directive's issuance on 30 April 1973. The directive applies nationally and is applicable to all operators and owners of the specified Piper aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction. Subordinate instruments may further detail the compliance requirements and the specific procedures for the inspection, ensuring that the safety standards are uniformly met across the country.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, Section 105, outlines the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). This particular directive, AD/PA-31/22, concerns the inspection of the alternator switch and circuit breaker panel wiring (Section 105). The directive applies to models PA-31 and PA-31-300 with serial numbers ranging from 31-2 to 31-841 (Section 105.01). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 30 April 1973 (Section 105.02).
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and require the aircraft owner or operator to ensure that the alternator switch and circuit breaker panel wiring is inspected according to the specifications outlined in Piper Service Letter No. 631 (Section 105.03). This inspection must be conducted by a certified aviation maintenance engineer who is authorised to carry out such work on the specified aircraft models (Section 105.04). Any identified issues must be rectified before the aircraft can be returned to service (Section 105.05).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD/PA-31/22 may result in civil penalties. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide that non-compliance can lead to financial penalties, with the maximum penalty for individuals being $22,222 and for corporations, $111,111 (Section 105.06). Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has the authority to issue enforcement notices, and in more severe cases, the Director of Public Prosecutions may pursue criminal charges which could result in imprisonment (Section 105.07). These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.