AD/PA-31/57 - Elevator Balance Weights - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), amended by the Civil Aviation Amendment (Enhancing Safety) Regulations 2006 (F2006B05761), introduced specific requirements for the maintenance and safety of Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes to address issues related to the security and balance of elevator components. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to ensure the ongoing airworthiness and safety of these aircraft, particularly focusing on the elevator balance weights. The regulation mandates the inspection of elevator balance weights to prevent potential flight safety hazards due to improper attachment or imbalance, which could compromise the stability and control of the aircraft during flight. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain and enhance aviation safety standards in compliance with international and national safety directives.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all model PA-31 and PA-31-300 aeroplanes equipped with wing luggage lockers as per the nayak STC. SA 986 SW. This legislation is focused on ensuring the airworthiness of specific Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes by mandating the inspection of elevator balance weights to maintain the safety standards required by the Commonwealth of Australia. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, as CASA is the federal regulatory body overseeing civil aviation safety across Australia. The applicability of this legislation extends to all operators and owners of PA-31 and PA-31-300 aeroplanes with the specified configuration, ensuring compliance with the mandated inspection within 25 hours of time in service following 19 August 1977. The requirement is to inspect the elevator balance weights fitted in the nose channel of the elevator for security of attachment and to check for elevator unbalance, specifically ensuring a maximum of 96.4 inch lbs. tail heavy. The legislation may also extend its application through subordinate instruments, which could provide further detail or amendments to the original directive.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, address the safety directives concerning Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the elevator balance weights in the aircraft's nose channel. The regulation, AD/PA-31/57, mandates that all model PA-31 and PA-31-300 aeroplanes equipped with wing luggage lockers, as per nayak STC. SA 986 SW, must comply with these directives (Section 105). The key requirement is either to inspect the elevator balance weights for secure attachment, specifically the "Rivnut" pull-up, and to verify that the elevator is not unbalanced beyond a maximum of 96.4 inch lbs. tail heavy, or to adhere to the amendments specified in FAA AD 77-12-02, amendment 39-2915 (Section 105.1). Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the required inspections are conducted within 25 hours of the aeroplane's time in service after 19 August 1977. This compliance timeframe is crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring safety standards are upheld. Operators must maintain detailed records of these inspections and any subsequent actions taken to comply with the directive (Section 105.2). Additionally, it is the operator's responsibility to ensure that the personnel performing these inspections are adequately trained and qualified to identify and rectify any issues with the elevator balance weights (Section 105.3). Failure to comply with these provisions can result in significant consequences. Operators found in breach of the Civil Aviation Regulations may face penalties that can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The severity of the penalty can depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, with maximum fines specified under relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Section 105.4). It is also important to note that ongoing non-compliance could lead to more severe consequences, such as suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate, which would prohibit the aeroplane from operating until all issues are rectified (Section 105.5).