AD/PA-31/83 Amdt 1 - Oil And Manifold Pressure Tubes - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through F2006B05789, aim to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. This particular legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, addresses a safety concern regarding Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with oil and manifold pressure tube failures, which could lead to significant in-flight hazards. The directive applies to specific models and serial number ranges of the PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 aircraft and mandates inspections within 100 hours of time in service following the issue date of 31 March 1981. The directive also references Piper SB No. 643A, indicating compliance with previous directives meets the requirements of this revision. This ensures that all affected aircraft maintain compliance with the latest safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. This legislation mandates specific compliance requirements for the Piper PA-31 and PA-31-325 models with serial numbers ranging from 31-752 to 31-8112002, as well as PA-31-350 models with serial numbers from 31-5001 to 31-8052212 equipped with air conditioning. The directive necessitates an inspection of oil and manifold pressure tubes within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1981. This legislation is applicable nationally across Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Compliance with the previous version of this directive satisfies the requirements of this revised issue, as stated in Piper Service Bulletin No. 643A.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, mandate the inspection of oil and manifold pressure tubes on specific Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes. Specifically, section 3/81 addresses the applicability of the directive to models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with serial numbers ranging from 31-752 to 31-812002, and model PA-31-350 with serial numbers from 31-5001 to 31-8052212 equipped with air conditioning systems. Compliance with the previous version of this directive is acknowledged as sufficient for meeting the requirements of this revision. The directive is rooted in Piper Service Bulletin No. 643A and necessitates adherence within 100 hours of time in service following 31 March 1981. The obligations imposed by this regulation on the relevant parties include the inspection of oil and manifold pressure tubes to ensure they meet the specified standards. Owners and operators of the affected Piper PA-31 series aircraft must conduct these inspections as stipulated, ensuring that any identified issues are addressed promptly to maintain airworthiness. The directive extends to a broader range of serial numbers, underscoring the importance of thorough compliance checks and the need for meticulous record-keeping to demonstrate adherence to the regulation. In the event of non-compliance with the airworthiness directives outlined in section 3/81, there are significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce penalties. Non-compliance may result in substantial fines, operational restrictions, or even the grounding of the affected aircraft. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the text, but they are generally aligned with the severity of the breach and the potential risk posed to aviation safety. These measures underscore the critical nature of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain high safety standards in civil aviation.