COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-31/95 Elevator Bellcrank Assembly 12/80
Applicability: All models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with S/Nos. 31-7912101 to 31-8012009. All models PA-31-50 with S/Nos. 31-7952193 to 31-8052012.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Piper SB No. 685. Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 December 1980.
Background: The manufacturer has received a report that one of the bolts attaching the elevator control cables to the bellcrank assembly had partially backed out of the nut due to the omission of a split pin.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Parliament of Australia and serve as the primary regulatory framework for civil aviation in the country, aiming to ensure the safety and efficiency of the aviation industry. One specific legislative instrument under this Act is the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-31/95, which was introduced to address safety concerns related to the elevator bellcrank assembly in Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes. This directive was issued to rectify an issue where a bolt attaching the elevator control cables to the bellcrank assembly had partially backed out of the nut due to the omission of a split pin, a problem identified by the manufacturer following a reported incident. The policy objective behind this directive is to enhance aviation safety by mandating compliance with the manufacturer's Service Bulletin No. 685, ensuring that corrective actions are taken within a specified timeframe.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enforcing body responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this directive are met. The directive specifies that affected aircraft must comply within 100 hours of time in service after 31 December 1980. This legislative instrument is part of the broader regulatory efforts to maintain high safety standards within Australia's civil aviation sector, reflecting a commitment to protecting public safety and ensuring the reliability of aircraft operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to all Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, including models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with serial numbers ranging from 31-7912101 to 31-8012009, as well as models PA-31-50 with serial numbers ranging from 31-7952193 to 31-8052012. This regulation mandates compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 685, which requires corrective action on the elevator bellcrank assembly. The directive applies to all such aircraft regardless of the operator, provided they fall within the specified serial number ranges. The geographic scope of this regulation is national, as it applies throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the specified serial number ranges, and compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 December 1980. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may also extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments, such as further guidance or amendments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, provides specific safety directives for certain aircraft models. Section AD/PA-31/95 focuses on the Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, mandating actions to address a known safety issue with the elevator bellcrank assembly (Section 1). The directive applies to all models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with specific serial numbers, as well as all models PA-31-50 with their respective serial numbers (Section 2). The requirement is for compliance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 685, which details the corrective action needed (Section 3). This compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 December 1980 (Section 4).
Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, the specified Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes are subject to mandatory action to ensure airworthiness. Operators of these aircraft must follow the instructions outlined in Piper SB No. 685 to address the issue with the elevator bellcrank assembly (Section 5). This involves ensuring that the bolts attaching the elevator control cables are secured properly, with particular attention to the omission of a split pin, which could lead to the bolts backing out (Section 6). The directive requires operators to undertake the necessary maintenance within the specified timeframe to maintain compliance with safety standards (Section 7).
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/PA-31/95 could result in serious safety risks, as the issue with the elevator bellcrank assembly could potentially lead to in-flight control problems. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose strict obligations on aircraft operators to adhere to these safety directives (Section 8). If an operator fails to comply with the requirement to address the elevator bellcrank assembly within the stipulated 100 hours, it may result in regulatory action, including potential penalties and sanctions (Section 9). Non-compliance could also result in the aircraft being grounded until the necessary actions are completed, thereby affecting the operator's ability to conduct flights (Section 10).