COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-32/35 Nose Landing Gear - Inspection and Modification 1/75
Applicability: All models with nosewheel installation to STC SA281AL.
Requirement: 1. (a) Visually inspect the noseqheel fork (Tibbetts Herree Air- motive P/N PA-32- 1) for bends and distortion.
(b) Visually inspect the nosewheel fork (Tibbetts Herre Air- motive P/N PA-32-1) for cracks using an approved dye penetrant technique.
2. Replace the following items:
(a) Nosewheel Fork (Tibbetts Herre Airmotive P/N PA-32-1) with Fork P/N PA- 32-1
(b) Cap-Piper P/N 20825-00 with Tibbetts Herre P/N PA-32-5.
(c) Axle Rod - Tibbetts Herre P/N PA-32-4 with Tibbetts Herre P/N PA-32-6.
Compliance: For Para. 1 - Within 25 hours time in service after 6 December 1974 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service until modified.
For Para.2 - Within 100 hours time in service after 6 December 1974, unless already accomplished.
Note: Applicable aircraft will have an 8.00-6 nose wheel tyre fitted.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instrument F2006B05830, were enacted to ensure the ongoing safety and compliance of civil aviation operations within Australia. This particular amendment, introduced to address the need for specific maintenance protocols for the Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series aeroplanes, focuses on the nose landing gear. The regulation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure that critical components of aircraft are regularly inspected and maintained to prevent potential safety issues. The policy objective of this regulation is to mitigate the risk of structural failure in the nose landing gear, which could potentially lead to accidents during landing or take-off. Compliance with these directives is mandatory for all Piper PA-32 models with nosewheel installations, requiring inspections and modifications to specified parts within stipulated intervals to maintain airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) series aeroplanes and applies to all models equipped with a nosewheel installation up to STC SA281AL. This regulation is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and mandates particular inspections and modifications to the nose landing gear of the specified aircraft to ensure their airworthiness. The geographic scope of this regulation is national, applying across Australia under the oversight of the Commonwealth. The requirement includes a visual inspection of the nosewheel fork for any bends or distortion, as well as checking for cracks using an approved dye penetrant technique. Additionally, specific components such as the nosewheel fork, cap, and axle rod must be replaced with specified parts. Compliance with these directives must be achieved within specific time intervals after 6 December 1974, with inspections to be conducted every 25 hours and modifications within 100 hours, unless already completed. These regulations can be further extended or refined through subordinate instruments as necessary, ensuring ongoing safety standards are met.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which govern the maintenance and inspection requirements for certain aircraft. One such directive, AD/PA-32/35, pertains to the nose landing gear of Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes, applicable to all models with nosewheel installation to STC SA281AL (section 1/75). The directive requires two primary actions: first, a visual inspection of the nosewheel fork (section 1(a)) for any bends or distortion, and second, a visual inspection using an approved dye penetrant technique to check for cracks in the nosewheel fork (section 1(b)). Additionally, specific components must be replaced as outlined in section 2 of the directive.
Compliance with these requirements is crucial. For the inspection tasks outlined in section 1, the directive stipulates that these inspections must be conducted within 25 hours of time in service after 6 December 1974, and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service until the modifications are made (section 1). The replacement of specified components, detailed in section 2, must be completed within 100 hours of time in service after 6 December 1974, unless the replacement has already been performed. This schedule ensures that the aircraft's nose landing gear remains in a safe and airworthy condition.
Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt provided, non-compliance with CASA directives can generally result in enforcement actions, including fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. The severity of the penalty may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and the potential for significant safety risks to be posed by failure to adhere to these airworthiness directives underscores the importance of strict compliance.