AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 - Main Fuel Supply Line - Inspection and Modification

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Legislation au F2017L00577 In force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 — Main Fuel Supply Line - Inspection and Modification

Legislation

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), CASA may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product. Therefore, this AD is a legislative instrument.

Under subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. When a foreign State of Design issued an AD before 1 October 2009 for a type of aircraft on the Australian Register, CASA, as Australia’s national airworthiness authority, must assess that information and, if appropriate, issue an Australian AD to mandate the requirements of the foreign State of Design. AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 applies to the Piper PA-34Series aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America issued AD 78-21-03 affecting Piper PA-34 series aeroplanes in 1978. The United States is the State of Design for this aircraft type. CASA subsequently issued AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 1 to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 78-21-03. As a result of a request from industry, CASA has issued AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 to correct a typographical error in the serial number range in the applicability of the AD. This AD repeals and replaces the previous AD on this subject.

 

The FAA AD is freely available from the FAA website at the following address:

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/0/CA42970E3A6176CA8625699E004ADFA3?OpenDocument&Highlight=78-21-03

 

The Piper Service Bulletin can be obtained from Piper Aircraft Inc, however, any Australian airline or operator which operates aircraft fitted with the affected engine is provided with this document by Piper by subscription.

 

Consultation

This AD is being made at the request of industry, in particular an operator of the Piper PA-34 series aircraft. As this AD amendment is of a minor or machinery nature and does not substantially alter existing arrangements apart from correcting a minor typographical error in the serial number range in the applicability of the AD, it is CASA’s view that it was not necessary or appropriate to undertake any further consultation under section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003.

Regulation Impact Statement

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

Making and commencement

The instrument has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

The instrument commences on 26 May 2017.

[Instrument number AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2]


Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 — Main Fuel Supply Line - Inspection and Modification

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the legislative instrument

The United States of America Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued AD  78‑-21-03 affecting Piper PA-34 series aeroplanes in 1978. The United States is the State of Design for this aircraft type. CASA subsequently issued AD/PA-34/27 Amdt  1 to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 78-21-03. As a result of a request from industry, CASA has repealed and replaced AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 1 to correct a typographical error in the serial number range in the applicability of the AD.

The primary purpose of this legislative instrument is to correct a minor typographical error in the applicability of the AD.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, enacted by the Governor-General under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, provide the framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This Act was introduced to address the need for stringent safety regulations and oversight within the aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is empowered under regulation 39.001 of the CASR 1998 to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) for specific types of aircraft or aeronautical products, ensuring compliance with international standards and fostering safety. The AD/PA-34/27 Amendment 2, introduced in response to a typographical error identified in the serial number range of the Piper PA-34 series aeroplanes, exemplifies CASA’s commitment to maintaining accurate and effective safety directives. This legislative instrument, which repeals and replaces the previous AD/PA-34/27 Amendment 1, aims to rectify a minor error without altering the existing safety requirements.

Scope and Application

The AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 pertains specifically to the Piper PA-34 series aircraft and is a legislative instrument under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. This amendment was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to correct a typographical error in the serial number range specified in the original AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 1. The AD applies to all Piper PA-34 series aircraft operating within Australia, ensuring compliance with airworthiness standards as mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. Although the AD itself is a legislative instrument, it was developed in response to a request from industry, specifically an operator of Piper PA-34 series aircraft, to address a minor error in the serial number range. The amendment does not substantially alter existing arrangements but ensures precision in the application of airworthiness directives, thereby maintaining the safety and airworthiness of affected aircraft. The AD is in alignment with international standards as outlined in Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, reflecting Australia’s commitment to global civil aviation safety practices.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 (paragraphs 1 to 10) mandate the inspection and modification of the main fuel supply line of Piper PA-34 series aircraft. Section 1 details that this amendment corrects a typographical error in the serial number range of the aircraft affected by the original AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 1, which was issued to implement FAA AD 78-21-03. The amendment ensures that the correct range of Piper PA-34 series aircraft are subject to the specified maintenance requirements. Operators and owners of affected aircraft must comply with the requirements set forth in AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2, which include conducting inspections and making necessary modifications to the main fuel supply line. This includes ensuring that the fuel lines are free from corrosion, leaks, and other defects that could compromise the aircraft's safety. The obligations under the amendment necessitate that operators maintain records of the inspections and modifications performed, as well as ensure that any required maintenance is carried out in accordance with the stipulated guidelines (paragraph 5). Failure to comply with AD/PA-34/27 Amdt 2 can result in significant consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the requirements may face enforcement actions, including fines or other penalties as prescribed under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives can include substantial financial penalties and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are completed. It is crucial for operators to ensure that their maintenance programs include the specific requirements outlined in this amendment to avoid any legal repercussions (paragraph 6).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.