{"id":"F2019L01356","name":"AD/PA-31/123 Amdt 1 Wing Spar Splice Plate (Navajo)","slug":"ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":100198,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2019L01356-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"part","heading":"Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes","content":"# Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/PA-31/123 Amdt 1 | Wing Spar Splice Plate (Navajo) | 22/2019 |\n| ------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | All Piper Navajo PA-31, PA-31/A1, PA-31-300 and PA-31-325 model aircraft.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. a. Replace the main wing spar splice plate in accordance with the instructions in Piper Service Bulletin 1003 dated 16 June 1997, as in force at the date of this AD.b. Visually inspect the removed splice plate for any signs of fretting, corrosion or cracks.c. Report any defects found in the splice plate via the CASA defect reporting system.Note 1: For information, FAA AD 98-09-25 mandates Piper Service Bulletin 1003. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Upon achieving 6000 hours aircraft time in service (TIS), or 1500 hours TIS after the splice plate is inspected in accordance with a CASA approved inspection program (see AD/PA-31/37 as in force from time to time), whichever is the later.Note 2: The words “as in force from time to time” require compliance with the most recent version of the referenced document.                                                          |\n|                | This AD commences on 25 October 2019.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| Background:    | Fatigue cracks have been found in the splice plate which joins the lower caps of the wing main spars. In addition to flight loads, contributors to the cracking are residual tensile stresses, fretting and corrosion.Amendment 1 of this AD clarifies the compliance section and removes the requirement to forward removed splice plates to CASA. It also inserts references to the associated Piper Service Bulletin and FAA AD.     |\n\n![A drawing of a face\nDescription automatically generated](image.001.jpeg)\n\nPieter van Dijk  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n18 October 2019","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PA-31/123 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PA-31/123 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/PA-31/123 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Wing Spar Splice Plate (Navajo)","sectionType":"part","heading":"Wing Spar Splice Plate (Navajo)","content":"## Wing Spar Splice Plate (Navajo)","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"22/2019","sectionType":"part","heading":"22/2019","content":"## 22/2019","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing fatigue cracking in wing spar splice plates. The changes are clarifying and administrative (removing the physical submission requirement, adding references) rather than expanding the scope to new aircraft, components, or safety issues."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with one main requirement (replace part)","Only 4 defined aircraft models in applicability","Simple conditional compliance formula (whichever is later of two time-based triggers)","One cross-reference to another AD (AD/PA-31/37) and one to a Piper Service Bulletin","Contains explanatory notes but these are non-binding guidance","No nested exceptions or complex definitional sections"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Piper Navajo PA‑31 series aircraft to replace the main wing spar splice plate per Piper Service Bulletin 1003, inspect the removed plate for fretting, corrosion or cracks, and report any defects to CASA.  \n\nIt responds to discovered fatigue cracking in the splice plate that could compromise wing integrity, and sets compliance at the later of 6,000 total hours or 1,500 hours after the last approved inspection."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 clarifies the compliance timing, removes the previous requirement to forward removed splice plates to CASA, and inserts explicit references to Piper Service Bulletin 1003 and FAA AD 98‑09‑25. The core safety obligation (replace splice plate and inspect/report defects) remains, while administrative burden for forwarding hardware is removed and compliance is tied to the most recent versions of the referenced documents."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to non‑legislative materials (Piper Service Bulletin 1003 dated 16 June 1997 and FAA AD 98‑09‑25) which must be followed “as in force”","Time‑based compliance trigger with a conditional (‘whichever is later’) tied to aircraft hours and prior CASA‑approved inspections (AD/PA‑31/37)","Reporting requirement to CASA for any defects found (administrative/compliance burden)","Technical judgement required in visual inspection for fretting, corrosion and cracks (maintenance/engineering assessment)","Amendment alters procedural obligations (clarifies compliance timing and removes requirement to forward removed plates), creating transitional interpretation issues","Applicability spans multiple PA‑31 variants, affecting a dispersed owner/operator population"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Piper Navajo PA‑31, PA‑31/A1, PA‑31‑300 and PA‑31‑325 aeroplanes to replace the main wing spar splice plate in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin 1003, visually inspect removed plates for fretting, corrosion or cracks, and report any defects to CASA. Replacement must occur at 6000 hours TIS or 1500 hours after a CASA‑approved inspection programme (whichever is later); the AD commenced 25 October 2019. Who pays: aircraft owners/operators; who decides: CASA (referencing the Piper SB and FAA AD); behaviour change: scheduled replacement, inspection and defect reporting."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-123-amdt-1-wing-spar-splice-plate-navajo/documents"}}