{"id":"F2006B05637","name":"AD/PA-28/83 - Battery Protection and Rear Seat Installation - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135303,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05637-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-28/83 - Battery Protection and Rear Seat Installation - Inspection","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-28 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-28/83  Battery Protection and Rear Seat Installation - Inspection\n\n\n1/82\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models PA-28-151 & PA-28-161 with S/Nos. referenced in Piper SB No. 631B or with S/Nos. referenced in subsequent issues or revisions of that SB.\n\n \n\nDocument: Piper SB No. 631B. (FAA AD 81-23-05 Refers).\n\n \n\nCompliance: 1. Part I: Before further flight after 25 November 1981, unless already\n\naccomplished.\n\n \n\n2. Part II: Within 50 hours time in service after 25 November 1981, unless already accomplished.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer has received reports of the seat base springs chafing the battery box cover and the springs subsequently contacting the battery terminals.\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":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument, as written, addresses a specific, narrowly defined set of aircraft and refers to an external service bulletin for corrective actions. The text does not indicate any expansion or contraction of scope relative to the stated purpose; it limits application to PA-28-151 and PA-28-161 aeroplanes with serial numbers referenced in Piper SB No. 631B (Applicability; Document)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to PA-28-151 and PA-28-161 aircraft with serial numbers listed in an external service bulletin (Applicability).","Mandatory compliance tied to an external technical document (Piper SB No. 631B), so the AD does not itself contain the technical steps (Document).","Two-part compliance timetable with an immediate-before-next-flight requirement for Part I and a 50-hours TIS deadline for Part II (Compliance).","Requirement to check aircraft records/serial numbers to determine whether an aircraft falls within scope (Applicability).","Cross-reference to an FAA AD increases the need to consult multiple documents to see related regulatory guidance (Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates inspections and any corrective action specified in Piper Service Bulletin No. 631B for certain PA-28-151 and PA-28-161 aeroplanes identified by serial number, with Part I due before next flight after 25 Nov 1981 and Part II within 50 hours TIS.  \n\nIt responds to reports of seat-base springs chafing the battery box and contacting terminals; compliance (and costs) fall to the registered owner/operator, typically implemented by maintenance organisations."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing battery-terminal contact from seat springs."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 2 defined compliance deadlines","Single cross-reference to external document (Piper SB No. 631B)","No nested conditional logic or exceptions","Straightforward cause-and-effect: identified hazard → mandatory inspection","Applicability limited to specific aircraft models and serial numbers"],"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) for specific Piper Cherokee aircraft.\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of Piper PA-28-151 and PA-28-161 aircraft with specific serial numbers listed in Piper Service Bulletin 631B. These are single-engine, four-seat light aircraft commonly used for flight training and private flying.\n\n**What it requires:** Two separate safety checks:\n- **Part I:** Immediate inspection before the aircraft flies again after 25 November 1981\n- **Part II:** Follow-up inspection within 50 flight hours after that same date\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer discovered that rear seat springs could rub against (\"chafe\") the battery box cover, eventually wearing through to touch the battery terminals. This creates a serious fire and electrical hazard. The directive forces operators to inspect for this problem and fix it before it causes an in-flight emergency.\n\n**Key point:** This is a retrospective safety fix — it applies to aircraft already in service, not just new ones."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-28-83-battery-protection-and-rear-seat-installation-inspection/documents"}}