COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-46/15 Powerplant Cooling 2/89 DM
Applicability: PA 46-310P (MALIBU).
Serial Numbers: 46-8408002 through 46-8408035, 46-8408037 through 46-8408046,
46-8408048 through 46-8608002, 46-8608004 through 46-8608067, 46-08001
through 4608076, 46-08078 through 46-08129.
Requirement: Embody powerplant cooling improvement kit Piper Part No 765-365 in accordance with Piper SB No 892.
Note: Teledyne Continental SB M88-12 refers.
Compliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 20 January 1989.
Background: Incidents have occurred that indicate excessive operating temperatures have resulted in engine damage. Recent Piper Aircraft Co. tests confirmed that oil and cylinder head normal operating temperatures where being exceeded due to insufficient air flow through the engine compartment which, if not corrected, can result in catastrophic failure of the engine due to excessive heat.
This Directive is issued to prevent catastrophic engine failure due to insufficient cooling air.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate civil aviation safety within Australia, ensuring compliance with international standards and addressing specific safety concerns. One such legislative instrument is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/PA-46/15 concerning Piper PA-46 (Malibu) series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of engine overheating and potential catastrophic failure in certain Malibu series aircraft due to insufficient cooling air flow. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate the installation of a powerplant cooling improvement kit to prevent such overheating incidents and thereby enhance the safety of these aircraft. The directive applies to specific serial numbers of the PA 46-310P (Malibu) and requires compliance within 50 hours of time in service after 20 January 1989.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 and the accompanying schedule of airworthiness directives, applies to the Piper PA-46 Malibu series aeroplanes with particular emphasis on models PA 46-310P (Malibu) with serial numbers ranging from 46-8408002 to 46-8408035, 46-8408037 through 46-8408046, 46-8408048 through 46-8608002, 46-8608004 through 46-8608067, 46-08001 through 4608076, and 46-08078 through 46-08129. This legislation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and has a national jurisdictional reach within Australia. The directive mandates the incorporation of a powerplant cooling improvement kit, as specified by Piper Part No 765-365 and referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No 892, to mitigate the risk of engine overheating which can lead to catastrophic engine failure. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 50 hours of time in service after 20 January 1989. This requirement is not subject to exclusions or exemptions as outlined in the directive, and adherence is mandatory for the specified aircraft to ensure airworthiness and safety.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, contains Airworthiness Directives (AD) that govern the safety standards for aircraft. One such AD is AD/PA-46/15, which pertains to the Piper PA-46 (Malibu) series aeroplanes and addresses powerplant cooling issues (section 2/89 DM). This directive applies to certain serial numbers of the PA 46-310P (MALIBU) aircraft, namely those within the ranges 46-8408002 through 46-8408035, 46-8408037 through 46-8408046, 46-8408048 through 46-8608002, 46-8608004 through 46-8608067, 46-08001 through 4608076, and 46-08078 through 46-08129.
The directive requires that these aircraft incorporate the powerplant cooling improvement kit, as specified by Piper Part No 765-365, in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No 892. Reference is also made to Teledyne Continental Service Bulletin M88-12. This action is necessary to address identified issues of excessive operating temperatures that have led to engine damage, and to ensure that oil and cylinder head temperatures do not exceed normal operating levels due to inadequate airflow through the engine compartment. Such insufficient airflow, if left unaddressed, can result in catastrophic engine failure.
Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers governed by this AD must comply with the specified requirements within 50 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 20 January 1989. Failure to adhere to the AD's stipulations can lead to serious safety risks, including the potential for engine failure in flight, which could endanger the aircraft, its occupants, and persons or property on the ground. The directive is a critical measure to mitigate these risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Failure to comply with the AD/PA-46/15 may result in civil or criminal consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Specifically, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including fines and other penalties. The severity of the penalties can vary, but for significant breaches, CASA may impose fines of up to $330,000 for corporations and $66,000 for individuals, in addition to potential imprisonment terms. The specific penalties depend on the nature and severity of the non-compliance, and CASA has the authority to take appropriate legal action to ensure adherence to the safety standards mandated by the AD.