AD/PA-31/59 Amdt 1 - Horizontal Stabiliser and Vertical Fin Stringer Attach Rivets - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were introduced to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. One of the key components of this regulation is Part 39, which outlines specific safety directives to maintain aircraft airworthiness. Among these directives is AD/PA-31/59 Amendment 1, which focuses on the inspection of horizontal stabiliser and vertical fin stringer attach rivets for certain models of Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. This amendment was introduced to address the identified issue of potential structural integrity risks in these specific aircraft models, thereby enhancing flight safety. The objective of this directive is to ensure that the specified aircraft models are regularly inspected and maintained according to the stipulated requirements to prevent any potential safety hazards arising from the condition of the mentioned components. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as part of its regulatory role, mandates these airworthiness directives to ensure compliance with safety standards. The AD/PA-31/59 Amendment 1 requires that inspections be conducted unless they have already been performed within 100 hours of time in service after 1 June 1978. This directive applies to certain serial numbers of PA-31 and PA-31-325 models, as well as PA-31-350 models, to ensure that the specified aircraft are maintained to the required safety standards. The policy objective is to mitigate any potential safety risks by ensuring that critical components are regularly inspected and maintained, thus contributing to the overall safety of civil aviation operations in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to certain Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, namely the PA-31 and PA-31-325 models with specified serial numbers, and the PA-31-350 models with their designated serial numbers. This legislative instrument mandates that these aircraft undergo a specific inspection of the horizontal stabiliser and vertical fin stringer attach rivets unless the inspection has already been completed within 100 hours of time in service after 1 June 1978. The regulation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the specified aircraft meet the required safety standards. The directive is supported by Piper Service Bulletin No. 575 or FAA AD 77-24-01 Amendment 39-3083, ensuring compliance with established safety protocols.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, mandates specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of certain Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. Section 39-105 details the airworthiness directives for Piper PA-31 aeroplanes, specifying certain models and serial numbers that must comply with particular maintenance directives. The relevant Airworthiness Directive (AD/PA-31/59 Amendment 1) focuses on the inspection of horizontal stabiliser and vertical fin stringer attach rivets (section 5/78). This directive applies to all models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with specific serial numbers, as well as to all models PA-31-350 with certain serial numbers. The obligations under this regulation require the operators of the specified Piper PA-31 aeroplanes to ensure that the inspections mandated by the directive are conducted. This involves examining the horizontal stabiliser and vertical fin stringer attach rivets to ensure they meet the safety standards outlined in the directive. Compliance must be achieved unless the required inspections have already been completed within 100 hours of time in service after 1 June 1978. The directive references Piper Service Bulletin No. 575 or FAA AD 77-24-01 Amendment 39-3083 as the documents that detail the necessary inspection procedures. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in serious consequences. Operators found to be in breach of these regulations may face both civil and criminal penalties. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could result in imprisonment. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the provided text, but generally, the severity of the penalty reflects the potential risk posed by the non-compliance to aviation safety. Ensuring adherence to these directives is therefore crucial to avoid these adverse outcomes.