{"id":"F2006B05518","name":"AD/PA-24/12 - Rubatex Blocks - Removal from Interior of Wing","slug":"ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":46385,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05518-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-24/12 - Rubatex Blocks - Removal from Interior of Wing","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-24 (Comanche) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-24/12 Rubatex Blocks - Removal from Interior of Wing 6/62\n\nApplicability: Models PA-24 and PA-24-250 with S/Nos. 24-1 to 24-2264. Document:  1. Piper SL No. 364A; or\n\n2. FAA AD 62-10-3.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Forthwith.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the text provided, the directive sets a clear, self-contained scope: removal of Rubatex blocks on Models PA-24 and PA-24-250 with S/Nos 24-1 to 24-2264, following Piper SL No. 364A or FAA AD 62-10-3, to be done forthwith. The instrument text does not indicate any change in scope from an earlier statement; it specifies the affected models/serial numbers and immediate compliance, with no subsequent narrowing or expansion evident in the supplied text. (See “Applicability,” “Document,” and “Compliance: Forthwith.”)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical scope: single corrective action (removal of Rubatex blocks) limited to two models and a defined serial number range (Applicability).","Immediate timing: compliance required “Forthwith,” which raises urgency and operational scheduling complexity (Compliance: Forthwith).","External procedural dependence: the substantive steps are contained in external documents (Piper SL No. 364A and FAA AD 62-10-3), requiring access to and reliance on those documents (Document).","Practical implementation tasks: identification of affected aircraft by serial number and performance of maintenance work by qualified personnel.","Limited text in the instrument: absence of an explicit rationale or detail in the directive increases reliance on the referenced documents for technical complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This is a Civil Aviation Safety Authority airworthiness directive titled “AD/PA-24/12 Rubatex Blocks - Removal from Interior of Wing” (see header). It requires removal of Rubatex blocks from the interior of the wing on the aircraft covered by the directive. (See “AD/PA-24/12” and title.)\n\nWho it affects\n\n- The directive applies to Piper PA-24 and PA-24-250 aeroplanes with serial numbers 24-1 through 24-2264. (See “Applicability: Models PA-24 and PA-24-250 with S/Nos. 24-1 to 24-2264.”) \n- Primary affected parties are the registered owners and operators of those aeroplanes and any maintenance organisations performing the work.\n\nWhat must be done and when\n\n- The action required is removal of the Rubatex blocks from the interior of the wing. The AD points to the work/inspection instructions given in either Piper Service Letter No. 364A or FAA AD 62-10-3. (See “Document: 1. Piper SL No. 364A; or 2. FAA AD 62-10-3.”)\n- The compliance timeframe is “Forthwith,” i.e. immediate action is required upon receipt/knowledge of the directive. (See “Compliance: Forthwith.”)\n\nStated purpose and testing that claim against costs and incentives\n\n- The instrument itself does not set out an explicit narrative justification in the text provided. Its placement in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives and the title indicate the measure’s direction is to remove specified material from the wing interior (see header and title). That form of directive typically intends to address an identified airworthiness concern by mandating a corrective action; the text here provides only the mandated action, the affected models/serial numbers, the procedural references, and the timing.\n\n- Who pays: Owners/operators bear the direct costs of compliance (labour, parts if replacement is needed, and aircraft downtime). (Implied by mandatory requirement and affected parties in “Applicability” and “Compliance: Forthwith.”)\n\n- Incentives and compliance burden: Because the directive is mandatory, owners/operators must schedule and carry out the removal without delay; this creates an immediate scheduling and maintenance burden. The directive’s cross-reference to Piper Service Letter No. 364A or FAA AD 62-10-3 sets the procedural standard that technicians must follow, so compliance requires access to those documents and any tools or parts they specify. (See “Document: …” and “Compliance: Forthwith.”)\n\n- Opportunity costs and downtime: Aircraft may be grounded while the inspection/removal is performed, which creates opportunity costs for operators (loss of use, potential revenue loss for commercial operators). (Implied by the need to perform maintenance “forthwith”.)\n\n- Effects on private markets and businesses: Independent maintenance organisations and certified technicians are the likely providers of the required work; the directive therefore transfers business (repair/inspection work) to those markets. Owners choose how and where to obtain the service but must meet the directive and referenced instructions. (Derived from mandatory action + referenced procedural documents.)\n\nImplementation risk and bureaucratic discretion\n\n- Implementation risk centers on correctly identifying affected aircraft (matching serial numbers), obtaining and following the referenced documents (Piper SL No. 364A or FAA AD 62-10-3), and performing removal work to the required standard. (See “Applicability” and “Document.”)\n- The text gives CASA little operational discretion for timing: the word “Forthwith” imposes immediate compliance, leaving limited flexibility to operators on when to act except as reasonably necessary to schedule the work. (See “Compliance: Forthwith.”)\n\nTrade-offs, concentrated benefits, and potential substitution effects\n\n- The directive concentrates compliance costs on owners/operators of the listed serial-numbered models; any safety or airworthiness benefit (not set out in the text) would accrue to those operators and to broader airworthiness outcomes. The directive creates immediate demand for maintenance services; if owners delay or substitute cheaper/unspecified fixes, that would be non-compliant given the cross-references to the specified documents.\n\nPractical next steps for affected parties\n\n- Owners/operators should: (1) check aircraft serial numbers against the applicability clause; (2) obtain Piper SL No. 364A and/or FAA AD 62-10-3 to identify the exact removal procedure; and (3) schedule and perform the removal immediately in accordance with those documents. (See “Applicability,” “Document,” and “Compliance: Forthwith.”)\n\nKey cited text\n\n- “AD/PA-24/12 Rubatex Blocks - Removal from Interior of Wing.”\n- Applicability: “Models PA-24 and PA-24-250 with S/Nos. 24-1 to 24-2264.”\n- Document: “1. Piper SL No. 364A; or 2. FAA AD 62-10-3.”\n- Compliance: “Forthwith.”"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue safety directive from 1962. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow purpose of addressing a specific material defect in specific aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — approximately 100 words","No defined terms section — all language is plain operational English","No cross-references to other legislation beyond citing source documents (Piper Service Letter and FAA AD)","Simple unconditional command structure: applicability + action required + compliance deadline","No exceptions, exemptions, or conditional logic","Single compliance action with no alternative methods of compliance stated"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It requires owners and operators of specific Piper PA-24 Comanche aircraft to immediately remove 'Rubatex blocks' from inside the wings.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Mandates immediate action**: The word 'Forthwith' means 'do it now' — there's no grace period.\n- **Targets specific aircraft**: Only applies to Piper PA-24 and PA-24-250 models with serial numbers 24-1 through 24-2264.\n- **Addresses a safety hazard**: Rubatex blocks (a type of foam insulation/material) apparently posed a risk requiring urgent removal from the wing interior.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of early-model Piper Comanche aircraft (roughly the first 2,264 aircraft built)\n- Maintenance organisations servicing these aircraft\n\n**Why it matters:**\nAirworthiness Directives are legally binding safety instructions. Ignoring this directive means the aircraft cannot legally fly in Australian airspace. The '6/62' reference suggests this directive originated in June 1962 (likely adopted from a US Federal Aviation Administration directive), indicating this addresses a known historical safety issue with these specific aircraft."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-24-12-rubatex-blocks-removal-from-interior-of-wing/documents"}}