AD/PA-31/62 - Flap Operation Placard - Installation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address safety concerns in aviation through a comprehensive set of rules and standards. A specific instrument under this Act, F2006B05767, pertains to the Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes and introduces Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-31/62. This directive focuses on the safe operation of the flap system in these aeroplanes. It was introduced to address the potential hazard of inadvertent flap selector movement during an approach, which could lead to improper flap settings and compromised flight safety. The policy objective is to ensure that pilots are clearly informed of the correct procedure to follow when the flap selector is inadvertently moved beyond the "approach" detent, thereby enhancing flight safety by preventing misconfiguration of the aeroplane's flap system. This legislative instrument mandates the installation of a specific placard in the cockpit and its inclusion in the flight manual to ensure pilots are adequately informed of the correct reprogramming procedure.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all PA-31T aeroplanes within the Commonwealth of Australia. This regulation mandates that an approved placard be installed in the cockpit adjacent to the flap selector to caution pilots of the specific procedure to follow when inadvertently moving the flap selector beyond the "approach" detent. The intent is to ensure that pilots return the selector to its original position and then back to "approach" to reprogram the selector correctly, thereby preventing the flaps from returning to their original position if the selector is merely returned to "approach" without proper reprogramming. Additionally, this caution must be inserted into the FAA approved Pilots Operating Handbook Piper Report 2048, which is part of the Australian approved Flight Manual. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory before issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness for the aeroplane. This regulation is enforceable across the entire Commonwealth, ensuring uniform safety standards are met in the operation of PA-31T aeroplanes.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates a particular directive concerning the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, addressing the operational safety of flap mechanisms. Section 1 of the directive (AD/PA-31/62) requires the installation of an approved placard in the cockpit of all PA-31T aeroplanes. This placard must be positioned adjacent to the flap selector and clearly state the specific procedure for reprogramming the flap selector when inadvertently moved beyond the "approach" detent (section 1(1)). The wording of the placard must convey that after an inadvertent movement, the selector must be returned to its original position before being set to "approach" again to ensure the flaps reprogramme correctly. Furthermore, section 2 of the directive mandates that this caution be incorporated into the FAA approved Pilots Operating Handbook Piper Report 2048, which forms part of the Australian approved Flight Manual (section 2). The obligations imposed by this directive are primarily on the operators and maintainers of PA-31T aeroplanes. They must ensure that the specified placard is installed in the required location in the cockpit, and that the safety information is accurately conveyed to pilots through the flight manual. The compliance with these directives must be achieved prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness for the aeroplane. This requirement underscores the importance of clear and precise operational guidance to prevent potential mishaps arising from incorrect flap settings during critical flight phases such as approach. Breach of these directives may lead to serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally subject to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges if the breach results in safety incidents. Given the critical nature of flap operation during flight, particularly in the approach phase, adherence to these safety mandates is paramount.