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-31/51
Amdt 1
Flap Transmission - Inspection 10/83
Applicability: Models PA-31, PA-31-300 and PA-31-325 with S/Nos. 31-2 to 31-7812129. Model PA-31-350 with S/Nos. 31-5001 to 31-7852171. Model PA-31P with S/Nos. 31P-1 to 31P-7730012. Model PA-31T with S/Nos. 31T-7400002 to 31T-7820092. Model
PA31T1 with S/Nos. 31T-7804001 to 31T-7804011. Except aircraft which have incorporated Piper SL 959.
Documents: 1. Piper SB No. 494B, Instruction No. 1; or
2. Piper SL No. 764A, Instruction No. 1.
Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 28 October 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.
Note: Compliance with Section 2 of AD/PA-31/44 within the past 100 hours time in service satisfies compliance with the 25 hour requirement of this Directive.
Background: Piper SL 959 introduces an optional flap control system which restores 40o flap movement and relieves the specific inspections on some aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation (Flap Transmission - Inspection) Amendment (No. 1) Instrument 2006 (F2006B05755), was enacted to address the safety concerns associated with the flap transmission system in Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia, with the intention of ensuring the airworthiness of specific Piper PA-31 aircraft models through mandatory inspections of the flap transmission. The policy objective behind this amendment is to enhance aviation safety by requiring regular inspections of the flap transmission, thereby preventing potential failures that could compromise the aircraft's operational safety.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the enforcing body under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, mandates that certain Piper PA-31 models undergo inspection of their flap transmission within 25 hours of time in service after 28 October 1976, and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. This directive applies to specific serial number ranges of the Piper PA-31 series, excluding those aircraft that have already incorporated the optional flap control system as per Piper Service Letter 959. Compliance with this directive is essential to ensure the continued safe operation of these aircraft within Australian airspace.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This particular directive, AD/PA-31/51 Amendment 1, concerns the flap transmission inspection of Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. It applies to specific models and serial numbers of the PA-31 series, including PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T, and PA-31T1, with certain exclusions based on serial numbers. Notably, aircraft that have incorporated Piper SL 959 are exempt from this directive as it introduces an optional flap control system that relieves the need for the specific inspections outlined here. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 25 hours of time in service following 28 October 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The directive also notes that compliance with Section 2 of AD/PA-31/44 within the past 100 hours of time in service satisfies the 25-hour requirement of this directive. The directive's application is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, extending its reach nationally to ensure safety standards are uniformly enforced across the country.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the airworthiness directives for Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes through AD/PA-31/51 Amendment 1. This directive mandates that certain models of Piper PA-31, namely PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T, and PA-31T1, with specific serial numbers, must undergo inspections of their flap transmission systems. The directive excludes those aircraft that have incorporated Piper Service Letter (SL) 959, which provides an optional flap control system that restores 40 degrees of flap movement and relieves certain inspection requirements on these aircraft.
The obligations under this directive include ensuring that the flap transmission system is inspected within 25 hours of time in service after 28 October 1976. Additionally, subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The compliance can be satisfied by following Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 494B, Instruction No. 1, or Piper Service Letter (SL) No. 764A, Instruction No. 1. Moreover, compliance with Section 2 of AD/PA-31/44 within the past 100 hours of time in service meets the 25-hour requirement of this directive.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/PA-31/51 Amendment 1 can result in significant consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious matter under civil aviation law. Typically, such breaches can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including the issuance of fines, suspension, or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory penalties. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives may vary, but they are designed to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations.