AD/PA-38/15 - Fuel Gauges and Engine Instrument Power Circuits - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. This legislation addresses specific safety concerns in civil aviation, including the issuance of airworthiness directives for various aircraft models to rectify identified safety issues. A notable directive within this regulation is AD/PA-38/15, which concerns the modification of fuel gauges and engine instrument power circuits for Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address a critical safety issue where the common grounding point of the fuel gauges and engine instruments was found to be unreliable, potentially leading to operational failures. The policy objective is to enhance the reliability and safety of these aircraft by mandating specific modifications within a stipulated timeframe, ensuring that all affected aircraft meet the necessary safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/PA-38/15, pertains to all Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) series aeroplanes with serial numbers 38-78A0002 to 38-78A0027, 38-78A0029 to 38-78A0037, 38-78A0039 to 38-78A0041, 38-78A0043, 38-78A0045 to 38-78A0064, 38-78A0066 to 38-78A0072, and 38-78A0074 to 38-78A0104. The directive mandates modifications to the fuel gauges and engine instrument power circuits to address an identified issue where the common grounding point of these components has proven unreliable under operating conditions. The required modification involves the installation of a ground wire to ensure normal operation, as outlined in Piper Service Bulletin No. 603 or FAA AD 79-17-05. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 30 November 1979. This directive applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes, particularly AD/PA-38/15, mandate specific modifications to ensure the safety and reliability of fuel gauges and engine instrument power circuits. Section 11/79 requires compliance with modifications detailed in Piper SB No. 603 or FAA AD 79-17-05. These directives apply to a specific range of serial numbers for the model PA-38-112, ensuring that the affected aircraft receive the necessary updates. These provisions impose clear obligations on the owners or operators of the specified Piper PA-38 aeroplanes. They must ensure that within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1979, the aircraft undergo the required modifications to the fuel gauges and engine instrument power circuits. This is crucial to address the identified issue of the common grounding point being unreliable under operating conditions, thereby ensuring the aircraft's safety and compliance with airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with these directives can result in significant legal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to substantial penalties. Specifically, for non-compliance with a mandatory airworthiness directive, the maximum penalty can be up to 200 penalty units for an individual and 10,000 penalty units for a body corporate. Additionally, ongoing non-compliance can result in the grounding of the aircraft, leading to operational disruptions and potential safety risks. Given the critical nature of the modifications outlined in AD/PA-38/15, it is imperative that all affected aircraft are promptly updated to meet these regulatory requirements. Ensuring compliance not only maintains the airworthiness of the aircraft but also safeguards the safety of all personnel onboard and on the ground.