COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-44 (Seminole) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-44/13 Main Landing Gear - Trunnion Housing 10/94
Applicability: PA-44-180 Seminole Serial Numbers 44-7995001 to 44-8195026 and PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole Serial Number 44-8107001 to 44-8207020, unless equipped with main landing gear trunnion housings bearing the forging stamp number 02599-2.
Requirement: 1. Clean and strip paint from the inspection area as defined in Sketch A and Sketch B of Piper SB 787B. Inspect for cracks using fluorescent dye penetrant per CAO
108.10. Perform a detailed visual inspection using a 10X glass for grinding or machining marks. Remove any marks detected with 180 grit aluminium oxide paper. Polish area with 600 grit or finer aluminium oxide paper. Treat with Alodine 1200 (or equivalent), prime with a chromate primer and finish paint to match existing scheme.
2. Clean and strip paint from the inspection area as defined in Sketch A and Sketch B of Piper SB 787B. Inspect for cracks using fluorescent dye penetrant per CAO
108.10. Prime with a chromate primer and finish paint to match existing scheme.
3. Replace main landing gear trunnion with new replacement part number components as defined in Piper SB 787B.
Note: FAA AD 94-13-11 refers.
Compliance: 1. Action in accordance with Requirement 1 before 500 hours time in service or within 50 hours time in service from 15 September 1994 whichever is the later.
2. Action in accordance with Requirement 2 at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.
3. If the main landing gear trunnion hours cannot be determined the airframe hours may be substituted. Action in accordance with Requirement 3 before 2000 hours time in service, except that main landing gear trunnions that have exceeded 2000 hours time in service may remain in service until 2500 hours time in service provided:
- Replacement parts have been ordered and are unavailable.
b. Repeat inspections are performed at 10 hour time in service intervals and no cracks are detected. In this instance the requirement to paint the trunnion between inspections may be deleted.
c. Replacement is completed within 5 hours time in service of the parts becoming available.
Replacement with new part number trunnion housings as listed in Piper SB 787B with embossed forging number 02599-2, cancels all requirements of this AD.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: Cracks have developed in the main landing gear trunnion housings on the aft side at the lower end of the fillet. Though Piper have made design changes to these components cracks have still continued to occur. This AD inspects existing components and replaces them with further improved components.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through the legislative instrument F2006B06004, addresses specific safety concerns regarding the main landing gear trunnion housings on Piper PA-44 (Seminole) Series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, the policy objective is to mitigate the risk of structural failure due to cracks in the specified components, which could compromise flight safety. This legislative instrument targets aeroplanes with specific serial numbers, requiring thorough inspections and replacements to ensure airworthiness, thereby enhancing the safety standards in civil aviation. The enactment ensures that maintenance actions are taken at prescribed intervals, with specific timelines for compliance, to address the identified safety issue effectively.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, establish airworthiness directives that apply to specific aircraft models, such as the Piper PA-44 (Seminole) Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/PA-44/13. This directive pertains to aircraft with specified serial numbers, excluding those with main landing gear trunnion housings bearing the forging stamp number 02599-2. The regulations mandate a series of inspections and maintenance actions to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft, specifically addressing cracks in the main landing gear trunnion housings. Compliance with these requirements is critical for maintaining the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive requires inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service and mandates replacement of certain components if they exceed specified service hours, unless replacement parts are unavailable but have been ordered. The directive’s scope is enforced across the Commonwealth of Australia, and its application extends to aircraft operations governed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, contain detailed Airworthiness Directives (AD) aimed at ensuring the safety of aircraft. AD/PA-44/13 pertains to the Piper PA-44 (Seminole) Series aeroplanes, focusing on the main landing gear trunnion housing. This directive applies to specific serial numbers of the PA-44-180 Seminole and PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole models, excluding those with certain forging stamp numbers (Section 10/94). The directive outlines three primary requirements: cleaning and stripping paint from specified inspection areas, inspecting for cracks using fluorescent dye penetrant, and performing a detailed visual inspection for grinding or machining marks. Additionally, it mandates that any detected marks be removed and the area polished and primed, followed by painting to match the existing scheme. It also requires the replacement of the main landing gear trunnion with new components as specified.
The obligations under this directive require operators to comply with the outlined inspection and replacement procedures. Specifically, Requirement 1 must be completed within 500 hours of time in service or within 50 hours after 15 September 1994, whichever is later. Requirement 2 mandates inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. For Requirement 3, if the trunnion hours cannot be determined, the airframe hours may be substituted, with actions required before 2000 hours of time in service. In cases where replacement parts are delayed, operators must ensure repeat inspections at 10-hour intervals and complete the replacement within five hours of parts becoming available.
Failure to comply with the AD/PA-44/13 can result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforces strict compliance, and non-compliance may lead to grounding of the affected aircraft. The maximum penalties for breaches include substantial fines and potential imprisonment, as the legislation imposes civil and criminal liabilities for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. These penalties are intended to ensure that all parties adhere to the stringent safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, thereby maintaining the high safety standards of Australian civil aviation.