AD/PA-34/50 Amdt 1 - Aircraft Flight Manual, Flight into Icing Conditions

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Legislation au F2006B05921 In force Legislative Instrument

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Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-34/50 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.

AD/PA-34/50

Amdt 1

Aircraft Flight Manual, Flight into Icing Conditions

7/2000

Applicability: Models PA34-200, PA34-200T, and PA34-220T, all serial numbers. Requirement: Revise:

The Limitations Section of the aircraft's Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) by incorporating the following:

"WARNING"

Severe icing may result from environmental conditions outside of those for which the aircraft is certificated.

Flight in freezing rain, freezing drizzle, or mixed icing conditions (super cooled liquid water and ice crystals) may result in:

ice build-up on protected surfaces and exceed the capability of the ice protection system, or

ice forming aft of the protected surfaces.

This ice may not be shed using the ice protection systems, and may seriously degrade the performance and controllability of the aircraft.

During flight, severe icing conditions that exceed those for which the aircraft is certificated shall be determined by the visual cues described below. If one or more of these visual cues exists, immediately request priority handling from Air Traffic Control to facilitate a route or an altitude change to exit the icing conditions. The cues are:

unusually extensive ice accumulation on the airframe and windscreen in areas not normally observed to collect ice, and/or

accumulation of ice on the upper surface of the wing aft of the protected area, and/or

accumulation of ice on the engine nacelles and propeller spinners farther aft than normally observed.

Since the auto-pilot, when installed and operating, may mask tactile cues that indicate adverse changes in handling characteristics, use of the auto-pilot is prohibited when any of the visual cues specified above exist, or when unusual lateral trim requirements or auto-pilot trim warnings are encountered while the aircraft is in icing conditions.

All wing icing inspection lights must be operative prior to flight into known or forecast icing conditions at night. This direction supersedes any relief provided by any Minimum Equipment List.

2. The Normal Procedures Section of the AFM by incorporating the following:

THE FOLLOWING WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY BE CONDUCIVE TO SEVERE IN-FLIGHT ICING:

Visible rain at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius ambient air temperature;
Droplets that splash or splatter on impact at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius ambient air temperature.

PROCEDURES FOR EXITING A SEVERE ICING

ENVIRONMENT: (These procedures are applicable to all flight phases from take-off to landing.)

Monitor the ambient air temperature.

While severe icing may form at temperatures as cold as -18 degrees Celsius, increased vigilance is warranted at temperatures around freezing when visible moisture is present.

If the visual cues which are specified in the Limitations Section of the AFM for identifying severe icing conditions are observed, accomplish the following:

Immediately request priority handling from Air Traffic Control to facilitate a route or an altitude change to exit the severe icing conditions in order to avoid extended exposure to flight conditions more severe than those for which the aircraft has been certificated.

Avoid abrupt and excessive manoeuvring that may exacerbate control difficulties.

Do not engage the autopilot.
If the autopilot had previously been engaged, hold the control wheel firmly and disengage the autopilot.

If an unusual roll response or un-commanded roll control movement is observed, reduce the angle-of-attack.

Do not extend flaps when holding in icing conditions. Operation with flaps extended can result in a reduced wing angle-of-attack, with the possibility of ice forming on the upper surface further aft on the wing than normal, possibly aft of the protected area.

If the flaps are extended, do not retract them until the airframe is clear of ice.
Report these weather conditions to Air Traffic Control.

Note 1: Certificate of Registration holders should initiate action to ensure notification of this change is conveyed to any person who may operate their aircraft as pilot in command.

Note 2: FAA AD 99-14-01 refers.

Certification for accomplishment of this Directive may be carried out:

after a copy of this Directive is included in the appropriate sections of the aircraft's AFM; and

b. may be carried out at a minimum, by the holder of a private pilot's licence.

Compliance: Within 30 days after the Effective date of this Amendment.

This Amendment becomes effective on 13 July 2000.

Background: This Directive is issued to minimise the potential hazards associated with operating the aircraft in severe icing conditions by providing more clearly defined procedures and limitations associated with such conditions.

Amendment 1 is issued to correct a word processing error in the initial issue.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 March 2000.

Bernard Malcolm Hole

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 31 May 2000

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 June 2000.

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Piper PA-34 (Seneca) series aeroplanes, specifically targeting models PA34-200, PA34-200T, and PA34-220T, to address safety concerns associated with operating these aircraft in severe icing conditions. This AD, effective from 13 July 2000, was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aiming to minimise hazards related to flight into icing conditions by incorporating more clearly defined procedures and limitations into the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). The policy objective is to ensure pilots are better informed and prepared to handle the risks of severe icing, which can lead to ice build-up on the aircraft beyond the protection system's capacity, potentially degrading performance and controllability. The directive emphasises the need for pilots to recognise visual cues indicating severe icing and take appropriate action, including requesting priority handling from Air Traffic Control and avoiding the use of the autopilot in such conditions.

Scope and Application

The Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive, AD/PA-34/50 Amendment 1, applies to all models of the PA34-200, PA34-200T, and PA34-220T series, irrespective of their serial numbers. This legislation is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia, thus it is applicable across the nation. The directive mandates specific revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) of the aforementioned aircraft models to enhance safety during flight into icing conditions. It requires the incorporation of a warning in the Limitations Section of the AFM, advising on the severe consequences of flying in conditions outside those for which the aircraft is certificated, including the prohibition of autopilot usage in such conditions. Additionally, the Normal Procedures Section must be updated with specific weather conditions conducive to severe in-flight icing and detailed procedures for exiting severe icing environments. Compliance with this Airworthiness Directive must be achieved within 30 days from its effective date, which is 13 July 2000. The directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, thereby applying universally to all specified aircraft models operating within Australia.

Key Provisions

This legislative instrument focuses on an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD applies to Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes, specifically the PA34-200, PA34-200T, and PA34-220T models of all serial numbers ((1)). The directive mandates revisions to the aircraft's Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include updated procedures and warnings for flight into icing conditions. Specifically, the AFM's Limitations Section must be revised to incorporate a warning about severe icing conditions that can occur outside the aircraft's certificated environmental conditions ((2)). Additionally, the Normal Procedures Section must include new procedures for exiting severe icing conditions and specify conditions conducive to in-flight icing ((3)). The AD imposes several obligations on the parties governed by it. First, aircraft operators must ensure that the specified revisions are incorporated into the AFM within 30 days of the AD's effective date ((4)). This includes updating the Limitations Section with the new warning and the Normal Procedures Section with the new procedures for exiting severe icing conditions. Furthermore, the AD mandates that all wing icing inspection lights be operative before flight into known or forecast icing conditions at night, superseding any relief provided by any Minimum Equipment List ((5)). Certificate of Registration holders must also ensure that all persons who may operate their aircraft as pilot in command are notified of these changes. The AD does not explicitly state offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance. However, the requirement to incorporate the specified revisions into the AFM and ensure compliance with the new procedures is stringent. Failure to comply with these requirements could potentially lead to safety issues and non-compliance with aviation regulations, which could result in enforcement actions by CASA. The severity of these actions would depend on the specific circumstances of non-compliance and could range from fines to suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate.

Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Compliance Obligations; Prohibited Conduct
Catchwords: Severe Icing Conditions

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