{"id":"F2020L00051","name":"AD/PA-31/132 Flap Extension System","slug":"ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":100603,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2020L00051-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-31/132 | Flap Extension System | 3/2020 |\n| ------------ | --------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | All Piper PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31T, PA-31T1 andPA-31P Models.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Carry out the requirements contained in FAA AD 82-27-13 R2 as in force from time to time (the requirement document).Note 1: Where the requirement document states that the FAA has approved an equivalent method of compliance with a provision of the requirement document, the method of compliance is approved as a means of compliance with this AD in relation to that provision.Note 2: The following Piper Service Documents refer:Piper Service Bulletin 739Piper Service Bulletin 741Piper Service Bulletin 494BPiper Service Letter 764APiper Service Letter 958Piper Service Letter 959 |\n| Compliance:    | As indicated in the requirement document unless already accomplished.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n|                | This AD commences on 29 February 2020.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |\n| Background:    | This AD replaces the requirements of CASA Airworthiness Directives AD/PA-31/51 Amdt 1, AD/PA-31/101 Amdt 4, and AD/PA-31/102 Amdt 3 which are cancelled, and mandates the requirements of FAA AD 82-27-13 R2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n21 January 2020","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PA-31/132","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PA-31/132","content":"## AD/PA-31/132","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Flap Extension System","sectionType":"part","heading":"Flap Extension System","content":"## Flap Extension System","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3/2020","sectionType":"part","heading":"3/2020","content":"## 3/2020","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a new airworthiness directive, not an amendment to an existing legislative instrument."},"complexity_factors":["References an external FAA airworthiness directive that must be obtained separately","Cancels multiple previous Australian airworthiness directives","Applies to several Piper PA-31 model variants"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD applies to all Piper PA-31 series aircraft and requires owners/operators to comply with the U.S. FAA AD 82-27-13 R2 concerning inspection, modification and maintenance of the flap extension system (unless already done). FAA‑approved alternative compliance methods are accepted. The AD references Piper service documents for guidance, took effect 29 Feb 2020, and cancels three earlier Australian PA‑31 ADs."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains the original scope of airworthiness regulation for Piper PA-31 flap systems. It consolidates three previous Australian directives into one, but this is administrative streamlining rather than scope expansion. The safety requirement remains focused on the same aircraft systems as the original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-requirement directive (approximately 200 words of substantive content)","Only 1 defined term implicitly used ('requirement document' referring to FAA AD 82-27-13 R2)","Heavy reliance on external document (FAA AD 82-27-13 R2) — actual technical requirements not reproduced in the text","Simple conditional logic: compliance 'unless already accomplished'","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing within the instrument itself","References to 6 external Piper service documents for guidance"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that applies to specific Piper PA-31 series aircraft (including Navajo, Chieftain, and Cheyenne models).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners and operators of these aircraft to follow specific safety instructions from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the **flap extension system** (the mechanical system that extends the flaps on the wings, which help slow the plane down for landing).\n- The directive references **FAA AD 82-27-13 R2** — this is an American safety order that the Australian regulator is adopting into Australian law.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of Piper PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31T, PA-31T1, and PA-31P aircraft.\n- Maintenance engineers who work on these aircraft.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Flap system failures can be dangerous during landing. This directive consolidates and replaces three older Australian directives, simplifying compliance by pointing to one current US standard.\n- It ensures Australian-registered Piper aircraft meet the same safety standards as those in the US.\n\n**Key points:**\n- **Compliance:** Follow the FAA document's timeline unless the work is already done.\n- **Equivalent methods:** If the FAA approves an alternative way to fix the problem, that method is automatically accepted in Australia too.\n- **Relevant documents:** Several Piper service bulletins and letters provide technical guidance."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This AD replaces CASA AD/PA-31/51 Amdt 1, AD/PA-31/101 Amdt 4 and AD/PA-31/102 Amdt 3 and instead mandates the requirements of FAA AD 82-27-13 R2 (Background; Requirement). Practically, the scope shifts from several CASA-issued directives to a single directive that ties Australian compliance to the FAA AD as updated, so operators must follow the FAA document's current requirements rather than the cancelled CASA amendments."},"complexity_factors":["Delegation to an external, living document: compliance is defined by FAA AD 82-27-13 R2 'as in force from time to time', creating ongoing reliance on an external regulator's updates (Requirement).","Wide applicability across multiple model variants increases the population of affected operators and potential variation in configuration (Applicability).","Acceptance of FAA‑approved equivalent methods introduces discretionary variation in how compliance is achieved (Note 1 under Requirement).","Multiple referenced Piper service documents supply technical detail but require operators to locate and interpret several separate service bulletins/letters (Note 2 under Requirement).","Compliance timing and specific actions are determined by the requirement document rather than fixed in this AD, which shifts operational planning to the FAA AD's schedule (Compliance; Requirement).","Administrative change: several prior CASA ADs are cancelled and their requirements subsumed, which may require operators to reconcile previous maintenance records with the newly mandated FAA AD (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of the listed Piper PA‑31 series aeroplanes to carry out the inspections and corrective actions contained in FAA AD 82‑27‑13 R2, as that FAA AD is updated. It applies to all named PA‑31 variants and takes effect on 29 February 2020.\n\nOperators must follow the FAA AD's measures (FAA‑approved alternative compliance methods are accepted) and should consult the cited Piper service bulletins for technical procedures; several earlier CASA ADs are cancelled and replaced by this instrument."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-132-flap-extension-system/documents"}}