{"id":"F2006B05503","name":"AD/PA-23/76 Amdt 1 - Fuel System Control Cables - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":46349,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05503-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-23/76 Amdt 1 - Fuel System Control Cables - Inspection","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nPiper PA-23 (Apache and Aztec) Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/PA-23/76\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nFuel System Control Cables \\- Inspection 1/81\n\nApplicability: Models PA-23 and PA-23-160 with S/Nos. 23-1 to 23-2046 with auxiliary fuel systems only. Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250 and PA-E23-250\n\nwith S/Nos. 27-1 to 27-7954089.\n\nRequirement: Using a 10X power magnification, inspect all fuel valve control cable wires at each swivel fitting, idler control arm and actuating lever for cracks, sharp radius bends or kinks, referring to Piper SB No. 507 for inspection locations.\n\nNote: FAA AD 80-18-10, Amdt. 39-3903 also refers to this subject.\n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 January 1981 and there- after at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.\n\nBackground: This Directive has been amended to include the additional serial numbered aircraft listed in FAA AD 80-18-10.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive (implied by 'Amendment 1') only covered PA-23 and PA-23-160 models with serial numbers 23-1 to 23-2046 with auxiliary fuel systems. This amendment expanded coverage to include additional models (PA-23-235, PA-23-250, PA-E23-250) and a much broader serial number range (27-1 to 27-7954089), effectively more than doubling the affected fleet to align with the US FAA's equivalent safety directive."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical inspection requirement with clear methodology (10X magnification)","Limited applicability scope (two distinct serial number ranges across specific models)","Straightforward compliance timeline (100 hours recurring)","Only one cross-reference (to Piper Service Bulletin 507 for inspection locations)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or defined terms section","Short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners and operators of certain **Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec aeroplanes** to inspect their fuel system control cables for dangerous wear and tear. Specifically, mechanics must use a **10-power magnifying glass** to check the cable wires at connection points (swivel fittings, idler arms, and levers) for **cracks, sharp bends, or kinks**.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of Piper PA-23 series aircraft with specific serial numbers\n- Specifically: early model PA-23 and PA-23-160 aircraft (serial numbers 23-1 to 23-2046) that have **auxiliary fuel systems only**\n- Plus: PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, and PA-E23-250 models with serial numbers 27-1 to 27-7954089\n\n**When to comply:**\n- First inspection: within **100 hours of flying time** after 31 January 1981\n- Then: **every 100 hours of flying time** thereafter\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFuel system control cables manage the flow of fuel to the engines. If these cables crack or break in flight, pilots could lose control of fuel delivery — potentially causing engine failure or fire. This directive was updated (Amendment 1) to cover more aircraft than originally specified, matching a similar US safety order (FAA AD 80-18-10)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Directive was amended to include additional serial-numbered aircraft listed in FAA AD 80-18-10, expanding the set of Piper PA-23 series aircraft subject to the inspection requirement (Background; Note)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical scope limited to fuel valve control cable wires on specified Piper PA-23 variants (Applicability)","Prescriptive inspection method required (10X magnification) and specific locations referenced to an external service bulletin (Requirement)","Fixed, short recurring interval (every 100 hours TIS) with a historic initial compliance date (Compliance)","Cross-reference to external documents (Piper Service Bulletin No. 507 and FAA AD 80-18-10) which implementationally must be obtained and followed (Requirement; Note)","Amendment expanded the population of affected aircraft by adding serial numbers (Background)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Requires owners/operators of specified Piper PA-23 series aeroplanes with auxiliary fuel systems to inspect the fuel valve control cable wires. The inspection must use 10X magnification and cover swivel fittings, idler control arms and actuating levers, following the inspection locations shown in Piper Service Bulletin No. 507. (Requirement; Applicability)\n- Sets the timing for these inspections: carry out the first inspection within 100 hours time in service after 31 January 1981, and thereafter repeat the inspection at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service. (Compliance)\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Aircraft owners/operators and their maintenance providers for the Piper PA-23 and PA-23-160 models with serial numbers 23-1 to 23-2046 that have auxiliary fuel systems, and for PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250 and PA-E23-250 models with serial numbers 27-1 to 27-7954089. (Applicability)\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and operational consequences)\n\n- The Directive has been amended to include additional serial-numbered aircraft listed in FAA AD 80-18-10, according to the Background note. (Background; Note)\n\nPractical implications, incentives and costs (source-grounded)\n\n- Who pays: The inspections must be performed by the aircraft owner/operator or their maintenance provider, so they bear the direct labour, equipment (10X magnifier) and aircraft downtime costs associated with each inspection. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- What must change in behaviour: Operators must incorporate a recurring 100-hour inspection task into maintenance schedules and use Piper SB No. 507 to locate the specific cable locations to be inspected. Failure to perform these inspections would be non-compliance with the Directive. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Compliance burden: The Directive prescribes a specific inspection method (10X magnification) and fixed interval (every 100 hours TIS), creating a recurring maintenance obligation. The Directive does not quantify inspection time per aircraft or specify repair actions if defects are found — those practical details will affect total cost and downtime. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Implementation risk and dependencies: The inspections rely on operator access to Piper SB No. 507 for exact inspection locations. Any ambiguity or unavailability of that service bulletin will affect consistent implementation. The Directive itself is prescriptive about inspection scope and interval but refers externally for location details. (Requirement)\n- Decision-makers and discretion: The Directive mandates the inspection; the operator or maintenance organisation decides how and when (within the required intervals) to schedule and carry out the inspections. The text does not set out enforcement mechanisms or remediation steps in this instrument. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nTrade-offs and opportunity costs (source-grounded observations)\n\n- The recurring inspection schedule creates ongoing maintenance cost and aircraft availability impacts (downtime every 100 hours TIS). (Compliance)\n- The amendment expands the set of affected aircraft by adding serial numbers from the FAA AD, which increases the number of aircraft subject to the inspection requirement. The Background explicitly records that change. (Background; Note)\n\nOther cross-references\n\n- The Directive cites an FAA airworthiness directive (FAA AD 80-18-10) as also referring to this subject and uses that FAA AD as the basis for the expanded serial-number coverage. (Note; Background)\n\nKey source citations: Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Note; Background."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-23-76-amdt-1-fuel-system-control-cables-inspection/documents"}}