{"id":"F2019L00326","name":"AD/P68/22 Amdt 5 Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies","slug":"ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":98940,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2019L00326-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68 Series Aerop","sectionType":"part","heading":"Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68 Series Aeroplanes","content":"# Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/P68/22 Amdt 5 | Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies | 6/2019 |\n| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | This AD applies to all Partenavia P68 series aircraft up to and including serial number 356, other than aircraft that CASA excluded from the operation ofAD/P68/22 Amdt 4. |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | 1. Inspect the wing front and rear spars for cracks in accordance with the Inspection Instructions in Partenavia Service Bulletin No. 65 Revision 3 (the SB), as in force at the commencement date of this AD.Note 1: Aircraft on which the rear spar modification was accomplished before the issue of AD/P68/22 Amdt 3 require further repetitive inspections of the wing rear spar, unless the rear spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 3, 4 or 5.2. Modify the front and rear spar in accordance with the Repair Instructions in the SB and the following requirements:(a) Modifications to front or rear spars, reinforcement plates and fasteners must be wet assembled with jointing compound or sealant (Hylomar SQ-32, PR1436G, PR1422 or similar) to prevent corrosion;(b) The Avdel 5/32\" diameter blind rivets specified on Partenavia rear spar drawing R-0081 cannot be locked without using a special pulling head which is not readily available in Australia. Substitution of 3/16\" diameter high strength structural rivets or close-tolerance steel bolts is required. Some approved types are listed below. Grip lengths are not specified because of variations between individual assemblies. This list is not exhaustive, but alternative types will require approval from CASA under reg 39.004 of the CASR.Rivets (Hole size .192\"/.196\")Cherrymax CR3523P-6Bulbed Cherrylock CR2539P-6Bulbed Cherrylock CR2839CW-6Cherrylock CR2663CW-6Cherrylock CR2563-6Bolts (Hole size .1895\"/.1915\")NAS 1103AN173AN173C (however AN173 is preferred) |\n| Compliance: | 1. For aircraft which have achieved 1800 hours’ time in service - within 25 hours’ time in service after 20 September 1984, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service, or;For aircraft which have not achieved 1800 hours’ time in service - before achieving 1800 hours’ time in service, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service;Note 2: An inspection carried out in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 1, 2, 3 or 4 is taken to be an inspection for this AD.Note 3: Inspection of the wing front spar is not required where the front spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.Note 4: Inspection of the wing rear spar is not required where the rear spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 3, 4 or 5.2. If cracks are detected in a spar, before further flight. |\n| | This AD commences on 22 March 2019. |\n| Background: | A number of Australian aircraft have developed cracks in the front and rear lower spar cap angles. The critical area in each case is the radius run-out where the horizontal flange abruptly tapers down near the wing-fuselage attachment. As a result of these reports, the manufacturer issued SB No. 65, which detailed an improved inspection method and a repair for the front spar only. An AD was issued to incorporate SB No. 65 Revision 1, which included the rear spar. However, some variations to the rear spar repair scheme were, and still are, required.AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 introduced SB No. 65 Revision 2, which contained a re-designed front spar reinforcement. However, the previous modification was still considered to be satisfactory. Later serial number aircraft were also exempt from the requirements of AD/P68/22 Amdt 4.This AD introduces SB No. 65 Revision 3, which contains no further technical changes but extends the applicability to aircraft with serial numbers up to 356 in accordance with the Partenavia Service Bulletin 65 Revision 3. Additionally, the applicability section has been modified to enable exclusions issued by CASA from the operation of AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 to be treated as exclusions from this AD. The AD requirement and compliance sections have been modified for clarity. |\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)\n\nPieter van Dijk \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n18 March 2019","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/P68/22 Amdt 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/P68/22 Amdt 5","content":"## AD/P68/22 Amdt 5","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblie","sectionType":"part","heading":"Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies","content":"## Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"6/2019","sectionType":"part","heading":"6/2019","content":"## 6/2019","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This amendment extends the AD's applicability to include aircraft with serial numbers up to 356 per SB No.65 Revision 3, and explicitly treats prior CASA exclusions from AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 as exclusions for this AD. The technical content of SB No.65 was not changed, but the pool of affected aircraft and the clarity of applicability and compliance obligations were expanded."},"complexity_factors":["Technical inspection and repair requirements for critical wing spars (crack detection and reinforcement) increase technical complexity for maintenance providers.","Inspection intervals depend on aircraft hours-in-service and prior modification status, creating conditional compliance timing (Compliance section, Notes).","Multiple cross-references to earlier AD amendments and to Partenavia SB No.65 Revision 3 increase administrative and legal tracing (Background; Requirement).","Substitution of specified blind rivets with alternative high-strength rivets or close-tolerance bolts is allowed but requires CASA approval under CASR reg 39.004, adding regulatory discretion and approval delay risk (Requirement 2(b)).","Variability in grip lengths and bespoke assemblies means parts/supplies are not one-size-fits-all, raising error and rework risk (Requirement 2(b)).","Immediate grounding until repair if cracks are found increases operational disruption and potential cost concentration on affected operators (Compliance 2)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of Partenavia P.68 series aeroplanes (up to serial number 356, except aircraft CASA excluded) to inspect the lower front and rear wing spars for cracks and to carry out the repairs/modifications set out in Partenavia Service Bulletin No. 65 Revision 3. It prescribes inspection intervals tied to hours-in-service and requires grounding until a cracked spar is repaired.\n\nAircraft owners/operators pay for inspections and modifications; CASA must approve substitute fasteners under CASR reg 39.004 and can issue or carry forward exclusions. The AD mainly extends applicability and clarifies compliance timings."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Originally issued in 1984 as a crack inspection requirement, this directive has expanded significantly through five amendments. The scope has grown from initial inspection requirements to include: mandatory modification procedures, specific material substitutions for Australian operating conditions, expanded serial number applicability (now covering up to serial 356), and complex exemption handling. The current version incorporates by reference external technical documents (Service Bulletin 65 Rev 3) that contain the actual engineering specifications, making the AD itself a framework that delegates substantive requirements to manufacturer documentation. The directive has also accumulated historical baggage — multiple notes explaining how prior compliance with earlier versions satisfies current obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendment versions referenced (Amdt 1 through 5) with complex grandfathering rules — certain prior inspections or modifications satisfy current requirements while others don't","Bifurcated compliance schedule based on flight hours (1,800 hour threshold creates two distinct compliance paths)","Nested exemption logic — applicability excludes aircraft already excluded from Amdt 4, creating a dependency chain","Technical aviation terminology throughout (spar caps, flange run-outs, blind rivets, grip lengths) requiring specialized knowledge","Specific material substitutions with dimensional tolerances (hole sizes specified to thousandths of an inch) and conditional preferences (AN173 preferred over AN173C)","Cross-references to external documents (Partenavia Service Bulletin No. 65 Revision 3) that are incorporated by reference but not reproduced in the text","Conditional inspection waivers — inspections not required if prior modifications completed, but only specific amendment versions qualify for waiver"],"plain_english_summary":"Owners and operators of Partenavia P.68 aircraft (serials 1–356, excluding CASA‑exempted units) must inspect and, where necessary, modify front and rear wing spars after discovery of cracking where spars attach to the fuselage. \n\nInspections are required on a recurring schedule tied to total hours flown, and any crack found grounds the aircraft until approved repairs and corrosion‑preventing sealants and rivet replacements are fitted. This prevents possible wing failure in flight."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies","history":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-p68-22-amdt-5-wing-lower-front-and-rear-spar-assemblies/documents"}}