AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/93 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-31/93
Amdt 2
Main Landing Gear Inboard Door Hinge 4/2001
Applicability: | Model | Serial Numbers |
| PA-31 | 31-2 through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31-300 | 31-2 through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31-350 | 31-5001 through 31-5004 and 31-7305005 through 31-8553002. |
| PA-31-325 | 31-7400990, 31-7512001 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31P | 31P-1 though 31P-109 and 31P-7300110 through 31P-7730012. |
| PA-31T | 31T-7400002 through 31T-8120104 |
| PA-31T1 | 31T-7804001 through 31T-8104073; 31T-8104101; 31T- 8304001 through 31T-8304003; and 31T-1104004 through 31T- 1104017. |
| PA-31T2 | 31T-8166001 through 31T8166076 and 31T-1166001 through 31T-1166008. |
| PA-31T3 | 31T-8275001 through 31T-8475001 and 31T-5575001. |
| PA-31P-350 | 31P-8414001 through 31P-8414050. |
Requirement: 1. For aircraft with any MLG inboard door hinge assembly that is Piper part number 47529-32 (or FAA or CASA-approved equivalent part number), accomplish the following in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 682, dated July 24, 1980.
- Inspect all hinges and hinge attachment angles in the MLG inboard door hinge assembly; and
b. Replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge assembly with a Piper part number 47529-32 assembly (or FAA or CASA-approved equivalent part number).
2. For aircraft with any aluminium MLG inboard door hinge assembly that is not Piper part number 47529-32 (or FAA or CASA-approved equivalent part number) or any other assembly that is not made of steel, accomplish the following in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 682, dated July 24, 1980
- Inspect all hinges and hinge attachment angles in the MLG inboard door hinge assembly; and
b. Replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge assembly with a Piper part number 47529-32 assembly (or FAA or CASA-approved equivalent part number).
Compliance: 1. Inspect upon accumulating 2,000 hours time-in-service on the MLG inboard door hinge assembly or within the next 100 hours time in service after 19 April 2001, whichever occurs later; and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours TIS. Accomplish the replacement, if necessary, before further flight after the inspection.
2. Inspect at the next inspection required by the previous issue of this Directive or within the next 100 hours time-in-service after 19 April 2001 whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS. Accomplish the replacement, if necessary, before further flight after the inspection where the cracked assembly was found.
This amendment becomes effective on 19 April 2001.
Background: Instances of main landing gear inboard door hinge failure have occurred on local aircraft.
Amendment 1 was in response to a new FAA AD which was prompted by reports of cracks in the improved design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies on the affected aircraft. This AD retains the current repetitive inspections (contained in FAA AD 80- 26-05) and requires inspection on the improved design parts.
Amendment 2 is issued to include CASA-approved parts as an alternative to the Piper and FAA-approved parts.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 22 March 2001.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 30 September 1980.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 9 March 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 March 2001