COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-36/22 Forward Fuselage Tubes 6/86 T
Applicability: All models PA-36-300 with S/Nos. 36-7760001 through 36-8160023 and PA-36-375 with S/Nos. 36-7802001 through 36-8302025 which have not been modified in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 828.
Document: Inspect the forward fuselage tubing at the engine mount attachment areas in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 828.
Compliance: Prior to further flight after 12 May 1986 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service.
Background: The manufacturer reports that cracks have been found in the forward fuselage tubing weld clusters at the engine mount attachment locations. If undetected, this could result in engine/mount separation.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to address safety concerns in civil aviation. The legislation was introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia to establish and maintain standards for airworthiness directives, ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. The Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series Aeroplanes Forward Fuselage Tubes AD/PA-36/22, issued on 6/86, is an example of such directives aimed at rectifying identified safety issues. This particular directive addresses the problem of cracks in the forward fuselage tubing weld clusters at the engine mount attachment areas of certain Piper PA-36 models, as reported by the manufacturer. The policy objective is to mandate inspections and modifications to prevent engine/mount separation, ensuring continued safe operation of affected aircraft.
The regulations are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which schedules airworthiness directives to maintain safety standards. The Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series Aeroplanes Forward Fuselage Tubes AD/PA-36/22 requires specific Piper PA-36-300 and PA-36-375 models with particular serial numbers to be inspected and modified in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 828. The directive mandates inspections before further flight after 12 May 1986 and at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service to mitigate the risk of engine/mount separation due to undetected cracks.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the application of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/PA-36/22, applies to all models PA-36-300 with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 36-7760001 through 36-8160023, and PA-36-375 with S/Nos. from 36-7802001 through 36-8302025, provided these models have not been previously modified in line with Piper Service Bulletin No. 828. The directive mandates an inspection of the forward fuselage tubing at the engine mount attachment areas, in accordance with the aforementioned service bulletin, and compliance must be ensured prior to further flight after 12 May 1986 and at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service. The directive aims to address the potential for cracks in the forward fuselage tubing weld clusters at the engine mount attachment locations, which, if undetected, could lead to engine/mount separation. This regulation applies nationwide across Australia, administered by CASA, and is enforceable within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the AD/PA-36/22 regulation pertain to specific models of the Piper PA-36 aeroplanes. Specifically, section 6/86 of the regulation applies to PA-36-300 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 36-7760001 to 36-8160023 and PA-36-375 aeroplanes with serial numbers from 36-7802001 to 36-8302025, provided these aircraft have not been modified in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 828. This section mandates a thorough inspection of the forward fuselage tubing at the engine mount attachment areas, following the detailed procedures outlined in the aforementioned service bulletin. Compliance with these inspection requirements is mandatory before further flight after 12 May 1986 and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service.
The obligations imposed by this regulation on the relevant parties, primarily aircraft owners and operators, are clear and precise. They must ensure that the specified Piper PA-36 aeroplanes undergo the mandated inspection of the forward fuselage tubing at the engine mount attachment areas as per Piper Service Bulletin No. 828. These inspections must be conducted before any subsequent flight following 12 May 1986 and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service thereafter. Failure to comply with these inspection requirements could lead to serious safety concerns, including potential engine/mount separation, which underscores the critical nature of adhering to the regulation.
The consequences for non-compliance with the AD/PA-36/22 regulation are substantial and carry both civil and potentially criminal implications. Specifically, the regulation does not detail explicit penalties within the text provided; however, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) directives can result in significant enforcement actions. These may include fines, enforcement notices, and potential prosecution leading to criminal charges. The severity of the penalties may vary depending on the circumstances and the extent of the non-compliance, with potential maximum penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, alongside imprisonment for individuals found guilty of serious breaches. Ensuring adherence to the AD/PA-36/22 regulation is, therefore, not only a matter of compliance but also a critical safety imperative.