{"id":"F2006B05706","name":"AD/PA-31/119 - Aileron Control System","slug":"ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135505,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05706-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-31/119 - Aileron Control System","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-31 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-31/119 Aileron Control System 4/93\n\nApplicability: Model PA-31 Series.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Colour code the aileron balance cable and the bellcrank lug of both aileron control systems with red enamel paint in accordance with Figure 1 of this Directive.\n\n \n\nNote: FAA AD 92-27-05 Amdt 39-8438 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: The next time the aileron cables are disconnected for any reason or prior to 1 April 1994, whichever occurs first.\n\n \n\nBackground:  The FAA has received several reports of improper connections of the aileron control systems on the affected aircraft.\n\n \n\n![](image.002.png)  \n\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive retains a narrow, focused scope: it prescribes a single, specific maintenance/marking action for Piper PA-31 Series aileron components to address reported improper connections. The Requirement, Applicability and Compliance provisions in the text show no expansion or contraction of scope beyond that original, instrumented purpose as stated in the Background and Requirement sections. (Applicability) (Requirement) (Background) (Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly defined action (paint specified parts red). (Requirement)","Limited applicability to one aircraft model series. (Applicability)","Clear compliance trigger: at next cable disconnection or fixed calendar date. (Compliance)","Short text with no procedural enforcement or verification details, reducing interpretive complexity. (Requirement) (Compliance)","Reference to an external figure (Figure 1) for exact marking and to an FAA AD, which requires checking those external sources for full technical detail. (Requirement) (Note)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this directive does (mechanical change)\n\n- Requires that, on Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes, the aileron balance cable and the bellcrank lug of both aileron control systems be colour-coded with red enamel paint in accordance with Figure 1 of the Directive. (Requirement)\n- Applies only to Model PA-31 Series aircraft. (Applicability)\n- Must be done the next time the aileron cables are disconnected for any reason, or by 1 April 1994 if that event has not yet occurred. (Compliance)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Aircraft owners/operators and maintenance organisations responsible for Model PA-31 Series aeroplanes. They must ensure the specified parts are painted as required. (Applicability) (Requirement) (Compliance)\n\nStated purpose and source claim\n\n- The text states the measure responds to reports received by the FAA of improper connections of the aileron control systems on the affected aircraft. It also cross-references FAA AD 92-27-05. (Background) (Note)\n\nPractical effects, costs and incentives\n\n- Who pays: The direct cost falls to the aircraft owner/operator or their maintenance provider. Costs are the paint and the labour to apply it. (Requirement)\n- When it happens: The rule ties the work to ordinary maintenance (when the aileron cables are disconnected) or to a fixed date (by 1 April 1994), which can limit additional downtime if the work coincides with other scheduled maintenance; if not, an operator may need to schedule a visit specifically to comply. (Compliance)\n- Behaviour change: Maintenance personnel must apply a visible red paint mark to the specified components and can use that marking when connecting or inspecting aileron cables. This changes inspection and assembly practice by adding a visual identifier. (Requirement)\n- Incentives: The paint marking creates a low-cost signalling mechanism to reduce the chance of incorrect connections. That may lower inspection time and the likelihood of assembly error by making correct connection points clearer. (Requirement) (Background)\n\nTrade-offs, implementation risk and compliance burden\n\n- Trade-offs and opportunity cost: Painting is a low-cost intervention but consumes a small amount of labour and materials; if done outside of scheduled maintenance it imposes additional service costs and possible aircraft downtime. (Compliance)\n- Implementation risk: The directive depends on the paint being applied correctly and remaining visible; poor application, incompatible paint, or wear could reduce effectiveness. The instrument references a figure for the correct marking but does not specify paint durability standards. (Requirement)\n- Compliance burden: The action is narrowly defined and simple (colour coding), so the ongoing administrative or procedural burden is low. The main burden is ensuring the work is performed either at cable disconnection or before the specified date. (Requirement) (Compliance)\n- Bureaucratic discretion: The action is prescriptive (paint these parts red) with limited room for regulatory interpretation. The directive leaves little discretion about what must be done but does not prescribe enforcement or verification procedures in the text provided. (Requirement)\n\nEffects on private enterprise and operations\n\n- For maintenance providers and operators, the directive imposes a one-off or periodic small task that can be incorporated into existing maintenance workflows. It may reduce the time and risk associated with identifying correct connection points on the aileron control system. (Requirement) (Background)\n- There is no change to ownership, contract freedom, or broader operational rules in the text: the measure modifies only a maintenance/identification practice for the listed components on the listed model. (Applicability) (Requirement)\n\nReference notes\n\n- The directive explicitly notes the FAA advisory reference (FAA AD 92-27-05 Amdt 39-8438). (Note)\n- The directive’s stated background is the FAA’s reports of improper aileron control system connections. (Background)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, original airworthiness directive with narrow, specific scope. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating colour-coding for safety identification."},"complexity_factors":["Single, unambiguous requirement (paint two specific components red)","No defined terms section or interpretive provisions","Simple conditional compliance deadline (whichever occurs first)","No cross-references to other legislation (only a non-binding note about related FAA directive)","Single applicability criterion (Model PA-31 Series)","Total length: approximately 150 words of operative text"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It applies to **Piper PA-31 series aircraft** (a type of twin-engine plane).\n\n**What it requires:**\nOwners or operators must **paint specific parts of the aileron control system red** — specifically:\n- The aileron balance cable\n- The bellcrank lug (a pivot point) on both left and right aileron systems\n\n**Why this matters:**\nThe US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received reports of **incorrect reassembly** of aileron controls after maintenance. If connected wrongly, pilots could lose roll control of the aircraft. The red paint acts as a **visual warning** to mechanics, making it obvious if parts are swapped or misconnected.\n\n**When to do it:**\nBy **1 April 1994** at the latest, or sooner if the aileron cables are disconnected for any maintenance before that date.\n\n**Key point:** This is a **one-time visual modification** — not a mechanical repair, but a permanent safety marking to prevent human error during future maintenance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-119-aileron-control-system/documents"}}