{"id":"F2006B05710","name":"AD/PA-31/122 Amdt 1 - Wing Spar Splice Plate","slug":"ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135509,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05710-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-31/122 Amdt 1 - Wing Spar Splice Plate","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-31/122\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nWing Spar Splice Plate 1/95\n\n \n\nApplicability: All PA-31 series aircraft.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Remove the under-belly access panel to expose the splice plate which joins the wing main spar lower caps at the aircraft centre line. Inspect for corrosion on the visible surfaces of the splice plate.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Inspect by 12 February 1995, or within 12 months of the last inspection for corrosion, whichever is the later. Repeat at 12 monthly or shorter intervals thereafter.\n\n \n\nBackground: Amendment 1 introduces an annual check for corrosion in the splice plate following recent reports of two severe cases.\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 targeted safety directive for a specific aircraft type. Amendment 1 simply tightens inspection frequency from a one-time check to annual recurring checks based on new safety data. The scope remains precisely focused on wing spar integrity for PA-31 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability, requirement, compliance, and background","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple conditional logic (whichever is the later)","Single mechanical task with clear intervals","No nested exceptions or sub-delegations"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for **Piper PA-31 series aircraft** — a type of twin-engine plane commonly used for charter flights, air ambulance work, and freight.\n\n**What it requires:**\n- Aircraft owners and operators must **inspect a specific metal plate** (the \"splice plate\") that joins the two wings together at the centre of the fuselage\n- This involves removing an access panel on the underside of the aircraft to visually check for **corrosion** (rust or deterioration)\n\n**When to do it:**\n- First inspection by **12 February 1995**, or within 12 months of the last corrosion check — whichever comes later\n- Then **repeat every 12 months** (or more frequently if desired)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe wing spar is essentially the **backbone of the wing**. If the splice plate corrodes and fails, the wings could separate from the aircraft in flight. This directive was updated (Amendment 1) after two serious corrosion cases were discovered, prompting mandatory annual checks rather than one-off inspections."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 adds a recurring (annual or shorter) inspection requirement for corrosion of the wing spar splice plate that joins the wing main spar lower caps at the centre line. The Background states the amendment \"introduces an annual check for corrosion,\" indicating a change from the prior state (which the text implies lacked this mandatory, recurring inspection). The AD sets initial and repeat inspection timing but does not add prescribed remediation procedures."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability covers all PA-31 series aircraft (clear scope).","Inspection method limited to visual inspection of 'visible surfaces'—simple to perform but ambiguously defined.","Removal of under-belly access panel required (straightforward physical task).","Timing rule: initial inspection due by a fixed date or within 12 months of the last inspection, whichever is later (requires maintenance record checking).","Repeating interval fixed at 12 months or shorter (simple recurring schedule).","No remediation standards or acceptance criteria provided—operators must exercise judgement or seek additional guidance.","No specification of alternative inspection techniques or reporting format (creates operational discretion)."],"plain_english_summary":"This amendment mandates a recurring visual inspection—accessed by removing the under‑belly panel—of the wing main spar lower‑cap splice plate on all Piper PA‑31 aeroplanes, with a specified initial due date and 12‑month repeat interval. It targets operators/maintenance organisations, who must perform, record and fund inspections and any repairs. The change responds to two reported severe corrosion cases and leaves detection detail and corrective action to operator/maintainer judgement."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-122-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate/documents"}}