{"id":"F2006B05400","name":"AD/PA-20/1 - Battery Terminal Insulation","slug":"ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":46037,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05400-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-20/1 - Battery Terminal Insulation","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Piper PA-20 (Pacer) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-20/1 Battery Terminal Insulation NK\n\nApplicability: All models with S/Nos. 20-1 to 20-802. Document:  1. Piper SB No 118; or\n\n2. FAA AD 51-23-3; or\n\n \n\n3. ANO 105.1.27.2.5.2.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Forthwith.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive focused specifically on battery terminal insulation for one aircraft model series. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow technical purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — approximately 150 words total","Only one substantive requirement (insulate battery terminals)","No defined terms section","No conditional logic or nested exceptions","Simple applicability test (serial number range only)","References to external technical documents rather than embedding detailed instructions","Single-word compliance deadline ('Forthwith') with no phased implementation"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a compulsory recall notice, but for aircraft rather than cars.\n\n**What it requires:** Owners and operators of specific Piper PA-20 \"Pacer\" aeroplanes (serial numbers 20-1 through 20-802) must immediately insulate their battery terminals. This means covering or protecting the battery connections to prevent electrical shorts, sparks, or fires.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains these particular Piper aircraft models. The directive applies to all aircraft in that serial number range, regardless of where they fly in Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:** Battery terminals that touch metal parts can cause fires or electrical failures in flight — obviously dangerous. The \"Forthwith\" compliance deadline means **do this immediately** — there's no grace period. The directive references three technical documents (a Piper Service Bulletin, an American FAA directive, and an old Australian aviation order) that explain exactly how to perform the fix.\n\n**The bottom line:** If you've got one of these planes, you can't legally fly it until the battery terminals are properly insulated."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD, as provided, applies specifically to Piper PA-20 aeroplanes with serial numbers 20-1 to 20-802 and requires immediate compliance by following one of the three referenced documents. The supplied text does not indicate any amendment or expansion of scope from an earlier version; the scope as stated is the directive's expressed scope."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to Piper PA-20 S/N 20-1 to 20-802 (clear but requires serial‑number checks). (Applicability)","Does not include technical instructions in the AD text; compliance depends on cross‑referenced documents (Piper SB No.118; FAA AD 51-23-3; ANO 105.1.27.2.5.2), which adds a step for affected parties. (Document)","Immediate timing expressed as \"forthwith\" creates ambiguity around exact compliance deadlines and scheduling. (Compliance)","Enforcement mechanisms, acceptable alternatives, and recordkeeping requirements are not specified in the supplied text, requiring consultation of regulator practice or the referenced documents. (header; Document)","Operational impacts (parts, labour, downtime) are real but not quantified in the AD, requiring parties to estimate costs themselves. (Applicability; Compliance)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires immediate insulation of battery terminals on Piper PA-20 (Pacer) aircraft with serial numbers 20-1 through 20-802. Compliance must be done \"forthwith\" by following one of three referenced documents (Piper SB No.118, FAA AD 51-23-3, or ANO 105.1.27.2.5.2).\n\nIt affects aircraft owners/operators and maintenance providers, who bear parts, labour and downtime costs. The AD is terse: technical details, parts lists and precise procedures are only in the referenced documents, creating short‑term scheduling and information gaps."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-20-1-battery-terminal-insulation/documents"}}