AD/PA-32/51 - Fuel Line - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safe operation of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 of these Regulations addresses various safety directives for different types of aircraft, including the Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-32/51 was introduced to address a specific problem related to the fuel line in certain models of the Piper PA-32 series. The directive mandates modifications to the fuel lines to mitigate risks associated with potential fuel leaks, ensuring continued airworthiness and safety. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1977, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 557, reinforcing the regulatory intent to maintain stringent safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended and detailed in PART 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models, including the Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes. These regulations apply to the PA-32-260 models with serial numbers ranging from 32-01 to 32-7700013, mandating compliance with the requirements set forth in Piper Service Bulletin No. 557. The regulations establish a timeframe within which compliance must be achieved, specifically within 100 hours of time in service following the directive's effective date of 31 August 1977. This directive is applicable within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring that the specified modifications to the fuel line are implemented to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft. The scope of the regulations extends to all operators of the affected aircraft models, requiring adherence to the outlined safety standards to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft within Australian airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to the Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) series aeroplanes. This directive, numbered AD/PA-32/51, focuses on a fuel line modification for model PA-32-260 with serial numbers ranging from 32-01 to 32-7700013. The directive mandates that the compliance with these requirements must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1977 (section 39.105). The compliance is to be referenced against Piper Service Bulletin No. 557. The obligations under this directive are primarily centred around ensuring that the fuel line modifications are correctly implemented on the specified aircraft models. This includes following the guidelines and instructions detailed in the referenced Piper Service Bulletin to ensure the modifications meet the required safety standards. Aircraft operators must ensure that these modifications are carried out by appropriately certified personnel to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Furthermore, operators are required to keep detailed records of the modifications as evidence of compliance with the directive. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/PA-32/51 can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action against non-compliant aircraft, which can include grounding the aircraft until the required modifications are completed. Additionally, operators found in breach of these regulations may face administrative penalties, including fines. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, but they can be severe, reflecting the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.