Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, were enacted to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations in Australia. This specific regulation, AD/PA-36/9, focuses on Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) series aeroplanes and addresses the issue of ensuring the proper installation of the front bearing plate bolt on the control system torque tube. The objective of this legislation is to prevent mechanical failures that could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. The regulation was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and mandates compliance within 10 hours of time in service after 31 October 1975 for aircraft with serial numbers within the specified range. This directive aims to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft by ensuring critical components are correctly installed and operational.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 has issued Airworthiness Directives (AD) specific to Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series Aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/PA-36/9 pertains to the control system torque tube front bearing plate attachment bolt. This directive applies to all models of PA-36-285 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 36-7560001 to 36-7560121.12/75. The requirement is to ensure the proper installation of the front bearing plate bolt on the control system torque tube. To comply, it is necessary to remove the fuselage belly panel beneath the pilot seat, locate the front bearing plate to torque tube attachment bolt, and ensure the bolt is tight and properly engaged in the barrel nut. If the bolt does not exhibit the required thread engagement, it must be replaced with a proper length bolt (AN4-13A or equivalent), and the controls must be rechecked for proper operation. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 10 hours of time in service after 31 October 1975. This directive is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia, with CASA overseeing its enforcement.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes detailed provisions concerning the airworthiness of Piper PA-36 (Pawnee Brave) Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/PA-36/9. This section mandates specific actions to ensure the control system torque tube front bearing plate attachment bolt is properly installed. According to Section 3 of AD/PA-36/9, the requirement is to remove the fuselage belly panel directly beneath the pilot seat and locate the front bearing plate to torque tube attachment bolt (item 14). It is crucial that the bolt exhibits proper thread engagement in the barrel nut, with a minimum of 1 1/2 threads visible through the aperture in the torque tube. If the proper thread engagement is not present, the forward bolt must be removed and replaced with a bolt of the correct length, such as AN4-13A or an equivalent. Following this replacement, the controls must be rechecked to ensure proper operation. Compliance with these provisions is mandatory for all models PA-36-285 with serial numbers 36-7560001 to 36-7560121.12/75. The compliance period is set within 10 hours of time in service after 31 October 1975. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in significant safety risks, impacting the airworthiness of the aircraft. The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 on the parties governed by this directive are stringent. Operators and maintenance personnel must diligently follow the outlined steps to inspect and, if necessary, replace the front bearing plate attachment bolt. This involves meticulous removal and reinstallation processes, ensuring that every component meets the specified standards to maintain the integrity of the aircraft’s control system. Moreover, operators must ensure that all personnel performing these tasks are adequately trained and understand the importance of compliance with these safety directives. Breach of the obligations set forth in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to serious consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within this excerpt, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally results in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and potential criminal charges if the breach results in accidents or safety incidents. The severity of the penalties reflects the critical nature of maintaining airworthiness standards to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.