AD/PA-31/42 Amdt 2 - Airspeed Placard - Installation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, aim to provide comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation safety and operations within Australia. One of the specific amendments under this legislation is AD/PA-31/42 Amendment 2, which addresses the installation of airspeed placards in Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to ensure the safety and operational integrity of these aircraft by mandating that airspeed placards must contain specific airspeed limitation data specified in knots. This requirement applies to all Piper PA-31P models with specific serial numbers and PA-31-325 models with designated serial numbers. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after specific dates, ensuring that all affected aircraft are equipped with the necessary placards to prevent overspeeding and associated risks. The objective is to maintain high safety standards and compliance with international aviation safety protocols.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, addresses specific airworthiness directives pertinent to aircraft safety, with a focus on Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. This directive applies to all models PA-31P with serial numbers ranging from 31P-1 to 31P-7630007 and all models PA-31-325 with serial numbers from 31-7400990 to 31-7612110. The directive mandates the installation of an airspeed placard containing specific airspeed limitation data in knots. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after specific dates, either 31 May 1976 or 31 May 1977, depending on the model. Notably, compliance with the preceding issue of this directive also satisfies compliance with this current issue. This regulation ensures that relevant aircraft maintain operational safety standards as set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, outlines specific requirements for the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. In this context, AD/PA-31/42 Amendment 2 pertains to the installation of an airspeed placard on the mentioned models (section 5/77). The applicability of this directive covers all models PA-31P with serial numbers ranging from 31P-1 to 31P-7630007 and all models PA-31-325 with serial numbers ranging from 31-7400990 to 31-7612110. To comply with these directives, the aircraft must adhere to the specifications outlined in either Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 478 or SB No. 544. Compliance with these directives must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after specific dates: 31 May 1976 for the initial compliance and 31 May 1977 for the subsequent compliance. The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties or entities it governs are clear and specific. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that the airspeed placard is installed according to the guidelines set forth in the referenced service bulletins. The placard must contain specific airspeed limitation data, presented in knots, to ensure safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, operators must maintain records demonstrating compliance within the stipulated timeframes. Failure to comply with these directives could result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which could impede operations and potentially lead to further regulatory scrutiny. Breaching the requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations can have significant legal consequences. Under the Act, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence that could lead to various penalties. The maximum penalties for such offences can include fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The specific penalties depend on the nature and severity of the breach but can be severe due to the critical nature of airworthiness compliance in aviation safety. Moreover, failure to comply with these directives can also result in civil consequences such as the suspension or revocation of an aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, which would prevent the aircraft from legally operating. These consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the directives to maintain the safety and legality of aviation operations.