AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/96 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-31/96
Amdt 1
Engine Baffle Seals 4/2002
Applicability: PA31, PA31-325, PA31-300 Navajo and PA31-350 Chieftain aircraft:
| 1. | As detailed by serial number in Piper Service Bulletin Number 693; and |
2. | Not incorporating reinforced engine baffle seals as detailed in Requirement 2 of this Directive. |
Requirement: | 1. | Inspect engine baffle seals in accordance with Instructions A of Piper Service Bulletin No 693. |
| 2. | Reinforce engine baffle seals in accordance with Instructions B of Piper Service Bulletin No 693 or as approved by a person authorised by CASA (CAR 35). |
Note: FAA Airworthiness Directive 93-23-13 refers.
Compliance: Effective 18 April 2002:
- Inspection: Within 55 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 55 hours time in service. Requirement 2 provides terminating action for this inspection.
2. Reinforcement: At the operator’s discretion.
This Amendment becomes effective on 18 April 2002.
Background: This Directive was originally issued to require the inspection and reinforcement of the engine baffle seals. The requirement was in response to reports of engines overheating from ill fitting and blown back baffle seals. This amendment reflects the issue of FAA Airworthiness Directive 93-23-13 and introduces an extension of the inspection interval.
Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-31/96 Amdt 1 (continued)
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 December 1980.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 March 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has introduced the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/96 Amendment 1 to address safety concerns related to engine baffle seals in Piper PA-31 Series aeroplanes, including the PA31, PA31-325, PA31-300 Navajo and PA31-350 Chieftain aircraft. Enacted in 2002, the AD revokes the previous AD/PA-31/96 and provides updated requirements to mitigate the risk of engine overheating due to ill-fitting or blown back baffle seals. This legislative instrument, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aims to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft by mandating inspections and necessary reinforcement of engine baffle seals, with specific intervals and instructions as outlined in the directive.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to specific models of Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, namely the PA31, PA31-325, PA31-300 Navajo, and PA31-350 Chieftain, as identified by their serial numbers and those that do not incorporate the reinforced engine baffle seals specified in Requirement 2 of this Directive. The AD was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate and applies to aircraft operating within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia. The AD revokes the previous AD/PA-31/96 and introduces new requirements for the inspection and reinforcement of engine baffle seals, responding to reports of engine overheating due to ill-fitting and blown back baffle seals. Inspections must be conducted within 55 hours of time in service and then at intervals not exceeding 55 hours, while reinforcement of the baffle seals can be performed at the discretion of the operator. The AD was amended to reflect the issue of FAA Airworthiness Directive 93-23-13 and extends the inspection interval, becoming effective on 18 April 2002.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/96 Amdt 1 primarily applies to Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes, including the PA31, PA31-325, PA31-300 Navajo, and PA31-350 Chieftain models, as specified by their serial numbers in Piper Service Bulletin Number 693 and those that do not incorporate reinforced engine baffle seals as per Requirement 2. This AD mandates that operators inspect and, if necessary, reinforce the engine baffle seals to prevent potential engine overheating issues. The directive requires the inspection of engine baffle seals in accordance with Instructions A of Piper Service Bulletin No 693, and the reinforcement of the seals as per Instructions B or as approved by a CASA-authorised person. The directive specifies inspection intervals not to exceed 55 hours of time in service, with reinforcement being at the operator's discretion.
The obligations imposed by this AD include regular inspections and potential reinforcement of engine baffle seals to maintain airworthiness. Operators must ensure that the inspections are conducted within 55 hours of time in service and subsequent intervals not exceeding 55 hours. The reinforcement of the baffle seals must be performed in line with the specified instructions in Piper Service Bulletin No 693 or through an approved alternative method by a CASA-authorised person. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to unsafe conditions that compromise the aircraft's airworthiness.
Failure to adhere to the requirements set forth in this AD can result in significant consequences. Operators who neglect to inspect and reinforce the engine baffle seals as mandated could face civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR). The exact penalties are not specified within the AD but could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory actions deemed necessary by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such non-compliance not only risks severe penalties but also potentially endangers the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.