{"id":"F2006B05729","name":"AD/PA-31/24 Amdt 1 - Rudder Control Cables - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135529,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05729-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-31/24 Amdt 1 - Rudder Control Cables - 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-31 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-31/24\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nRudder Control Cables - Inspection 12/74\n\n \n\nApplicability: Model PA-31-350 with S/Nos. 31-5001 to 31-7405495. Document:  Piper SB No. 379A.\n\nCompliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 15 November 1974.\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\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The text supplied sets a single, specific requirement (inspect rudder control cables on identified PA-31-350 serial numbers) and a firm compliance deadline. The supplied document does not indicate any change to that scope from an earlier or original instrument; it states the applicability and compliance terms as the AD."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability: applies only to Model PA-31-350 with specific serial number range (Applicability).","Single clear action: a one-off inspection obligation is specified rather than an ongoing programme (title; Compliance).","External technical detail: the AD delegates procedural specifics to Piper SB No. 379A, requiring cross-reference (Document).","Fixed, short compliance window tied to a specific calendar date (Compliance).","Lack of procedural detail in the AD itself — corrective actions and repeat intervals are not included in the AD text (Document; Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 39, by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (header).  The document is titled “AD/PA-31/24 Amdt 1 — Rudder Control Cables - Inspection” (title).\n- It requires that rudder control cables on specified Piper PA-31-350 aeroplanes be inspected. The AD identifies the detailed inspection instructions by reference to an external technical document: Piper Service Bulletin No. 379A (Applicability; Document).\n- The compliance timing is explicit: the inspection must be completed within 25 hours time in service after 15 November 1974 (Compliance).\n\nWho is affected and who decides\n\n- Affected parties are operators/owners of Model PA-31-350 aircraft with serial numbers 31-5001 to 31-7405495 (Applicability).  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the issuing regulator (header).\n- The AD directs those operators to carry out the inspection within the stated time window and to use Piper SB No. 379A for the technical procedure (Document; Compliance).\n\nWhy the directive exists (as stated and as constrained by the text)\n\n- The AD’s title and the compliance requirement indicate the directive concerns the condition and airworthiness of rudder control cables and mandates inspection of those cables. The AD text supplied does not include an explicit statement of the safety event or root cause prompting the AD; it only specifies what to do and when (title; Compliance; Document).\n\nWho pays, who acts, and what behaviour changes\n\n- The issuing regulator (CASA) sets the requirement (header). Operators or owners of affected aircraft must schedule and carry out the inspection within the specified timeframe (Applicability; Compliance).\n- The AD references Piper SB No. 379A for the technical steps; operators must follow that service bulletin to perform the inspection (Document).\n- Any direct costs for labour, parts, or downtime arising from the inspection and any subsequent work will be borne by the aircraft owners/operators, because they are the parties required to comply (Applicability; Compliance).\n\nCosts, incentives, trade-offs and implementation notes\n\n- Scope and concentration of effect: The obligation applies only to a narrowly defined group of aircraft by model and serial number (Applicability). This concentrates compliance duties and any associated costs on the owners/operators of those specific airframes.\n- Compliance burden and scheduling: The AD sets a firm deadline: within 25 hours time in service after 15 November 1974. The 25-hour compliance window after 15 November 1974 requires operators to schedule maintenance within that period. The AD text provided does not detail corrective actions or repeating inspection intervals; operators must refer to Piper SB No. 379A for technical implementation steps (Compliance; Document).\n- Reliance on external technical material: The AD does not itself contain the step-by-step inspection procedure; it points to Piper SB No. 379A for those details (Document). That external document is therefore essential to implementation and defines the technical scope of the work.\n- Discretion and enforcement: The AD is an instruction issued under Part 39 airworthiness directives (header). The text supplied does not set out enforcement mechanisms, nor does it specify how compliance will be demonstrated; typical compliance records or certification procedures are not stated in this AD text.\n\nEffects on private enterprise and operational choice (market-liberal prior)\n\n- Competition and ownership: The AD does not change ownership or operating rights. It imposes a regulatory maintenance obligation on owners/operators of the specified aircraft (Applicability; Compliance).\n- Prices and productivity: The AD can create a short-term requirement for maintenance labour, consumables or parts and potential aircraft downtime. The AD text does not quantify costs or time beyond the 25‑hour compliance window (Compliance; Document).\n- Contract freedom and independent businesses: The AD does not prescribe who must perform the inspection (for example, a particular maintenance provider), so owners/operators retain freedom to contract a qualified maintenance organisation subject to following Piper SB No. 379A (Document).\n\nImplementation risk and compliance burden\n\n- The 25-hour compliance window after 15 November 1974 requires operators to schedule maintenance within that period. The AD text provided does not detail corrective actions or repeating inspection intervals; operators must refer to Piper SB No. 379A for technical implementation steps (Compliance; Document).\n\nSource citations\n\n- Issuing authority and regulatory basis: “COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 … CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES” (header).\n- Title: “AD/PA-31/24 Amdt 1 Rudder Control Cables - Inspection 12/74” (title).\n- Applicability and serial numbers: “Model PA-31-350 with S/Nos. 31-5001 to 31-7405495. Document: Piper SB No. 379A.” (Applicability; Document).\n- Compliance timing: “Within 25 hours time in service after 15 November 1974.” (Compliance)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue safety directive focused specifically on rudder control cable inspections for one aircraft model. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing a specific airworthiness concern."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 4 operative provisions: applicability, document reference, compliance deadline, and subject matter","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Simple conditional logic: if you operate this specific aircraft model in this serial number range, you must inspect rudder cables by this deadline","Single amendment (Amdt 1) with no indication of complex amendment history"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it as a \"recall notice\" for aircraft, but legally binding.\n\n**What it requires:** Owners and operators of specific **Piper PA-31-350 aircraft** (serial numbers 31-5001 through 31-7405495) must **inspect their rudder control cables** within 25 hours of flying time after 15 November 1974.\n\n**Why it matters:** Rudder control cables are critical flight controls. If they fail, the pilot cannot steer the aircraft properly, potentially causing loss of control. This AD was issued to catch a specific safety defect before it causes an accident.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone operating the affected Piper Navajo aircraft in Australia. Non-compliance means the aircraft cannot legally fly.\n\n**Key details:**\n- **Applies to:** Piper PA-31-350 models only (specific serial number range)\n- **Action required:** Inspection of rudder control cables\n- **Deadline:** Within 25 flight hours after 15 November 1974\n- **Technical reference:** Piper Service Bulletin No. 379A (the manufacturer's official repair/inspection instructions)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-24-amdt-1-rudder-control-cables-inspection/documents"}}