{"id":"F2006B05845","name":"AD/PA-32/49 - Fuel Tank Vent - Inspection and Modification","slug":"ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135868,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05845-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-32/49 - Fuel Tank Vent - Inspection and Modification","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-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-32/49 Fuel Tank Vent - Inspection and Modification 7/77\n\nApplicability: Models PA-32-260, with S/Nos. 32-13, 32-14, 32-1 to 32-7700016, and PA-32-300\n\nwith S/Nos. 32-15, 32-21, 32-40000 to 32-7740037, 32-7740039 to 32-7740053, 32-\n\n7740055 to 32-7740062 and 32-7740064 to 32-7740069.\n\n \n\nDocument: 1. Piper SB No. 342, pages 2 and 3; and\n\n \n\n2. Piper SB No. 571, Part C.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1977.\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, targeted safety directive addressing a specific technical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating fuel tank vent inspections and modifications for the identified Piper PA-32 models."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 2 defined/referenced documents (Piper Service Bulletins 342 and 571)","Simple conditional applicability based on aircraft model and serial number ranges","Single compliance deadline with straightforward calculation (100 hours time in service after fixed date)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond the serial number list","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the enabling Civil Aviation Regulations 1998"],"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) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six aircraft to inspect and modify their fuel tank vents. The directive references two Piper Service Bulletins (SB No. 342 and SB No. 571 Part C) which contain the technical instructions for the work.\n\n**Who it affects:** This applies only to specific serial numbers of two models:\n- **PA-32-260** models with serial numbers 32-13, 32-14, and 32-1 through 32-7700016\n- **PA-32-300** models with specific serial number ranges listed (note: some serial numbers are deliberately excluded, such as 32-7740038, 32-7740054, and 32-7740063)\n\n**When it must be done:** Within 100 hours of flight time after 31 July 1977.\n\n**Why it matters:** Fuel tank vents prevent dangerous pressure build-ups or vacuum conditions that could cause engine fuel starvation or tank damage. This AD addresses a specific safety defect identified in these aircraft. Non-compliance is illegal — aircraft cannot fly legally until the work is done."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The text of the AD sets a targeted requirement for inspection and modification of fuel tank vents on specified PA-32 models and serial numbers and prescribes the service bulletins and a compliance window. The instrument itself contains no statement that its scope was altered from any prior instrument; based solely on this text there is no indication the scope has changed from its original terms."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability defined by model and multiple serial-number ranges (Applicability).","Mandatory reliance on external technical documents (Piper SB No. 342; Piper SB No. 571) for the required inspection and modification (Document).","A fixed retroactive compliance deadline measured in hours time in service (100 hours TIS after 31 July 1977) rather than a calendar date (Compliance).","Technical nature of the required work (fuel tank vent inspection and modification) which typically requires specialised maintenance capability (Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"### What this instrument does\nThis Airworthiness Directive (AD) orders owners/operators of specified Piper PA-32 aircraft to have the fuel tank vent inspected and modified according to Piper service material. The AD identifies the exact airplane models and serial number ranges it applies to (see \"Applicability\") and points to two Piper Service Bulletins that describe the inspection/modification steps (see \"Document\"). It sets a deadline for compliance: the required work must be completed within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1977 (see \"Compliance\").\n\n### Who it affects\n- Owners and operators of the listed Piper PA-32-260 and PA-32-300 aeroplanes with the serial numbers specified under \"Applicability.\" (Applicability)\n- Maintenance providers or technicians who will carry out the inspection and modification, using the procedures in the referenced Piper Service Bulletins. (Document)\n\n### How it works, mechanically\n- The directive requires an inspection of the fuel tank vent and the carrying out of any modification steps set out in the referenced Piper Service Bulletins (Piper SB No. 342, pages 2–3; Piper SB No. 571, Part C). (Document)\n- The work must be completed within the fixed timeframe: within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1977. (Compliance)\n- The AD is issued under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation framework and is enforceable as an airworthiness requirement. (header: Civil Aviation Regulations 1998; Part 39)\n\n### Who pays and who decides\n- Owners/operators pay for arranging and funding the inspection and any required modification work (Applicability; Document; Compliance).\n- The technical content and steps are delegated to the manufacturer’s Service Bulletins (Piper SB No. 342; Piper SB No. 571), which the AD makes mandatory for the affected aircraft. (Document)\n- Regulatory authority (Civil Aviation Safety Authority under Part 39) is the legal basis for enforcement. (header)\n\n### Main costs, incentives and trade-offs\n- Direct compliance cost: owners/operators must commission the inspection/modification within the stated deadline; that cost falls on the aircraft owner/operator. (Applicability; Compliance)\n- Supplier/contractor demand: the AD channels work to maintenance providers able to perform the SB procedures, because the AD requires doing the tasks described in the listed Piper Service Bulletins. (Document)\n- Timing constraint: the fixed compliance window (100 hours TIS after 31 July 1977) creates an operational scheduling requirement for affected aircraft. (Compliance)\n\n### Implementation and compliance risks\n- The AD requires operators to follow external technical documents (the two Piper SBs). Relying on those external documents concentrates technical discretion in the manufacturer’s procedures. (Document)\n- The AD is narrowly targeted by model and serial number ranges; correctly identifying affected aircraft is a necessary administrative step for compliance. (Applicability)\n\nSources cited: Applicability; Document (Piper SB No. 342 pages 2–3; Piper SB No. 571 Part C); Compliance (100 hours TIS after 31 July 1977); header (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-49-fuel-tank-vent-inspection-and-modification/documents"}}