{"id":"F2006B05786","name":"AD/PA-31/80 - Elevator Control Stop - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135675,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05786-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-31/80 - Elevator Control Stop - 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-31/80 Elevator Control Stop - Inspection 6/79\n\nApplicability: All models PA-31, PA-31-300 and PA-31-325 with S/Nos. 31-5 to 31-7912049. All model PA-31-350 with S/Nos. 31-5001 to 31-7952091.\n\n \n\nDocument: Piper SB No. 649.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within the next 100 hours time in service after 30 June 1979.\n\n \n\nBackground: An incident has been reported to the manufacturer of an elevator control stop adjusting screw and locknut being loose and backing out resulting in restriction of elevator control travel.\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":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a one-time inspection."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical inspection requirement","Only 4 defined applicability criteria (aircraft models and serial number ranges)","One external reference document (Piper SB No. 649)","Simple compliance deadline (100 hours time in service from fixed date)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","Background explanation provided in plain language"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for specific **Piper PA-31 series aircraft**.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners and operators of certain Piper Navajo and Chieftain aeroplanes to inspect the **elevator control stop** — a mechanical component that limits how far the elevator (the part of the tail that makes the plane pitch up and down) can move.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- A loose adjusting screw and locknut on this component could restrict elevator movement, potentially causing **loss of pitch control** — a serious flight safety risk.\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- Owners/operators of:\n  - PA-31, PA-31-300, and PA-31-325 models with serial numbers 31-5 through 31-7912049\n  - PA-31-350 models with serial numbers 31-5001 through 31-7952091\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow **Piper Service Bulletin No. 649** (the manufacturer's official repair/inspection instructions)\n- Complete the inspection within **100 flight hours** after 30 June 1979\n\n**In short:** If you own one of these specific Piper aircraft, you must check a particular screw and nut on the elevator control system to ensure they haven't worked loose — or risk losing control of the aircraft's ability to climb or descend."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope is the explicit set of PA-31 models and serial-number ranges and the 100-hour inspection requirement after 30 June 1979 as stated in the document (Applicability; Compliance). The source text gives no indication that the scope has been amended or expanded from the original stated applicability, so there is no change apparent in this text."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, explicit applicability by model and serial-number ranges (Applicability).","Short, fixed compliance window tied to time-in-service after a calendar date (Compliance).","Dependence on an external technical document for inspection instructions (Document: \"Piper SB No. 649\").","Safety-critical subject matter (elevator control travel) increasing practical urgency despite simple legal text (Background).","No alternative compliance methods or enforcement details included in the text provided (Compliance/header)."],"plain_english_summary":"Owners and operators of specified Piper PA‑31 series (listed serial-number ranges) must inspect the elevator control stop adjusting screw and locknut per Piper SB No. 649 within 100 flight hours after 30 June 1979. The cost and scheduling are the operator’s responsibility; if loose or backed out, corrective work is required to prevent restricted elevator travel. This directive enforces the inspection to reduce the reported risk."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-80-elevator-control-stop-inspection/documents"}}