AD/PA-31/67 - Goodyear Fuel Cells - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate aviation safety across the nation. One specific legislative instrument under this act, F2006B05771, addresses the critical issue of ensuring the airworthiness of Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes. This directive, introduced to mitigate risks associated with Goodyear fuel cells, mandates that certain models of Piper PA-31 aircraft, specifically those fitted with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells, undergo periodic inspections. The policy objective behind this regulation is to enhance safety by preventing potential fuel cell failures that could compromise the aircraft's operation. Compliance with these directives is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1978 and annually thereafter, as detailed in Piper Service Bulletin No. 591, to maintain the integrity and safety of these aircraft in Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an airworthiness directive concerning the inspection of Goodyear fuel cells in Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to particular models of Piper PA-31 aeroplanes, including PA-31 and PA-31-300 with serial numbers starting from 31-1, PA-31-350 from serial number 31-5001, PA-31P from serial number 31-P, and PA-31T from serial number 31T-7400002, provided they are fitted with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells. Compliance with the directive is mandatory, requiring inspections to be carried out within 100 hours of the aeroplanes' time in service after 30 June 1978, and annually thereafter, following the specifics outlined in Piper Service Bulletin No. 591. This regulation is a Commonwealth instrument and applies across Australia, enforcing safety standards within the civil aviation sector to ensure that these aircraft meet the required safety criteria.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105 (section 39.105), outline the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, detailing specific requirements for maintaining aircraft airworthiness. Section 39.105(1) requires that all aircraft, including Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, comply with certain airworthiness directives to ensure safety. One such directive, AD/PA-31/67 (section 39.105(2)), mandates inspections of Goodyear fuel cells in specified models of Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. This directive applies to models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-350, PA-31P, and PA-31T, provided they have specific serial numbers and are equipped with Goodyear BTC-39 fuel cells. These directives impose clear obligations on aircraft operators and owners. They must ensure that the specified models of Piper PA-31 aeroplanes undergo the required inspections of their Goodyear fuel cells. According to section 39.105(3), compliance with these airworthiness directives is mandatory. Operators must complete the initial inspection within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 30 June 1978, followed by annual inspections as detailed in Piper SB No. 591. Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. Section 39.105(4) stipulates that non-compliance with the requirements set forth in the airworthiness directives is an offence. This could potentially result in penalties for the aircraft operator or owner. The specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, but under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. Such non-compliance can also lead to safety risks, which could be deemed criminal offences if they result in harm or endanger the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.