Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued the Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-46/33 on 13 September 2004 to address a safety issue with the Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced in response to reports from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding protective covers over the percussion cap or silicon tubes over the trigger mechanism pin on the aircraft's oxygen generator, which could render the emergency oxygen system inoperative. Such a condition poses a significant risk in emergency situations, potentially leaving crew and passengers without access to oxygen. CASA, acting under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, mandated that specific inspections and corrective actions be carried out to ensure the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The directive requires inspections and the removal of any identified protective covers or silicon tubes to mitigate the risk of the emergency oxygen system failing during flight.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Piper PA-46-500TP aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 4697001 through 4697163. The directive mandates inspections and, if necessary, corrective actions on the oxygen generator to ensure the aircraft's safety, particularly in relation to the emergency oxygen system's functionality. This requirement necessitates adherence to instructions outlined in The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1140 and the aeroplane maintenance manual, focusing on the detection and removal of any protective cover over the percussion cap or silicon tube over the trigger mechanism pin. The directive is effective from 13 September 2004, and compliance must be achieved within specific timeframes: inspections must be completed within the next 50 hours of time-in-service or 30 calendar days after the directive's effective date, whichever is earlier, while removal of detected covers or tubes must occur before any subsequent flight. This directive applies nationally within Australia, as issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority delegate, and is applicable to the specified aircraft models and serial numbers within the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-46/33 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 mandates specific actions for Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 4697001 through 4697163. These actions are intended to correct an unsafe condition related to the oxygen generator. The AD applies to these aircraft if the specified conditions are met, and the actions must be carried out in accordance with the instructions provided within the directive. The compliance period for these actions is clearly defined in the directive. The key requirement of the AD is that inspections must be conducted on the oxygen generator part number 471-025 as per The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1140, dated 16 September 2003, and the aeroplane maintenance manual (Chapter 35-20-00). Specifically, the inspections should focus on the presence of any protective cover on the percussion cap and any silicon tube on the end of the trigger mechanism pin. If any protective cover or silicon tube is found, it must be removed. These inspections must be completed within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this Directive or within the next 30 calendar days after the effective date of this Directive, whichever occurs first. The removal of any detected protective cover or silicon tube must be performed before further flight after the inspections have been conducted. The obligations imposed by the AD are primarily on the operators and maintenance personnel of the affected Piper PA-46 aeroplanes. They are required to conduct the specified inspections and removals as per the instructions provided in the directive. Failure to comply with these obligations could lead to safety risks, as the presence of protective covers or silicon tubes on the oxygen generator can render the emergency oxygen system inoperative, potentially endangering the crew and passengers in an emergency situation. The directive is aimed at ensuring that these aeroplanes maintain the integrity of their emergency oxygen systems. The consequences for non-compliance with this AD can be severe. While specific penalties are not detailed within the AD, non-compliance with CASA directives can generally result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment. The severity of the penalties may depend on the circumstances and the extent of the non-compliance. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken, which could have significant operational and financial impacts on the operators. The directive is designed to ensure that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants is not compromised.