{"id":"F2006B05801","name":"AD/PA-31/96 Amdt 1 - Engine Baffle Seals","slug":"ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135723,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05801-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-31/96 Amdt 1 - Engine Baffle Seals","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\n![](image.001.png) \nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-31/96 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nPiper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/PA-31/96\n\nAmdt 1\n\n \nEngine Baffle Seals 4/2002\n\nApplicability: PA31, PA31-325, PA31-300 Navajo and PA31-350 Chieftain aircraft:\n\n```html\n

1.

As detailed by serial number in Piper Service Bulletin Number 693; and

2.

Not incorporating reinforced engine baffle seals as detailed in Requirement 2 of this Directive.

Requirement:

1.

Inspect engine baffle seals in accordance with Instructions A of Piper Service Bulletin No 693.

2.

Reinforce engine baffle seals in accordance with Instructions B of Piper Service Bulletin No 693 or as approved by a person authorised by CASA (CAR 35).

\n```\n\nNote: FAA Airworthiness Directive 93-23-13 refers.\n\nCompliance: Effective 18 April 2002:\n\n Inspection: Within 55 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 55 hours time in service. Requirement 2 provides terminating action for this inspection.\n\n 2. Reinforcement: At the operator’s discretion.\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 18 April 2002.\n\nBackground: This Directive was originally issued to require the inspection and reinforcement of the engine baffle seals. The requirement was in response to reports of engines overheating from ill fitting and blown back baffle seals. This amendment reflects the issue of FAA Airworthiness Directive 93-23-13 and introduces an extension of the inspection interval.\n\nPiper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/PA-31/96 Amdt 1 (continued)\n\nThe original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 December 1980.\n\n![](image.002.png) \n\nEugene Paul Holzapfel\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 March 2002\n\n![](image.001.png) \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose of addressing engine baffle seal safety in specific Piper aircraft. The amendment merely updates inspection intervals to align with FAA standards and reissues the directive under current regulations (CAR 1998). No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with clear applicability criteria","Only 2 substantive requirements (inspect and reinforce)","Cross-reference to external technical document (Piper Service Bulletin No. 693) for detailed instructions","Simple conditional logic: applies only to aircraft not already modified","Clear compliance timeline with terminating action","No nested definitions or interpretation sections","Incorporates US FAA directive by reference (93-23-13)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive revokes and replaces a prior AD, requiring owners/operators of certain Piper Navajo and Chieftain aircraft (those listed in Piper SB No. 693 that have not been fitted with reinforced engine baffle seals) to inspect and ultimately reinforce engine baffle seals. The measures prevent engine overheating from seal blow‑back; the amendment also extends the inspection interval to align with the FAA."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The amendment extends the inspection interval and formalises the reinforcement option as terminating action while revoking the earlier AD (Background; Compliance). It also expressly references FAA AD 93‑23‑13 and ties required actions to Piper Service Bulletin No. 693 (Applicability; Requirement 1 and 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Targeted applicability to specific Piper PA‑31 variants and serial numbers as set out in Service Bulletin No. 693 (Applicability).","Two distinct required actions: recurring inspection (Requirement 1: 'Inspect ... in accordance with Instructions A of Piper Service Bulletin No 693') and optional reinforcement (Requirement 2: 'Reinforce ... in accordance with Instructions B ... or as approved by a person authorised by CASA (CAR 35)') creating a terminating action for inspections.","Fixed short inspection interval and repeat frequency (Compliance: 'Within 55 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 55 hours time in service'), which imposes ongoing operational/maintenance burden.","Operator discretion over timing of reinforcement (Compliance: 'At the operator’s discretion') but reinforcement removes the recurring inspection requirement, creating a trade‑off between upfront retrofit cost and ongoing inspection cost.","Administrative and certification discretion: CASA delegate issues/revokes AD and reinforcement may require approval by a CASA‑authorised person under CAR 35 (background and Requirement 2).","Reference to an external regulator's AD (FAA AD 93‑23‑13) and alignment with or incorporation of manufacturer Service Bulletin instructions increases cross‑jurisdictional and technical dependency.","Document updates an earlier AD (revocation of AD/PA‑31/96) and changes compliance timing (Background), requiring operators to track amendment history for legal compliance."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of Piper PA‑31, PA31‑325, PA31‑300 Navajo and PA31‑350 Chieftain aircraft to inspect engine baffle seals per Piper Service Bulletin No. 693 every 55 hours time‑in‑service and allows operators to reinforce seals (per Instructions B or CASA approval) as a one‑time terminating action. It replaces an earlier AD and cross‑references FAA AD 93‑23‑13. The rule responds to reports of overheating caused by ill‑fitting or blown back baffle seals and creates recurring inspection costs plus an optional retrofit choice for operators."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-31-96-amdt-1-engine-baffle-seals/documents"}}