{"id":"F2006B05853","name":"AD/PA-32/56 - Steering System - Modification","slug":"ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135877,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05853-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-32/56 - Steering System - 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-32/56 Steering System - Modification 5/78\n\nApplicability: All models PA-32-260 and PA-32-300 with S/Nos. 32-7400001 to 32-7400050, 32- 7440001 to 32-7440086, 32-7440088 to 32-7440160.\n\n \n\nDocument: 1. Piper SB No. 428; or\n\n \n\n2. FAA AD 74-18-13 Amendment 39-1939.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, within 100 hours time in service after 30 April 1978.\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":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive focused specifically on steering system modifications for a narrow range of aircraft serial numbers. It has not expanded beyond its original technical safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability (aircraft models/serial numbers), document references, compliance deadline, and subject matter","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Simple conditional logic: 'Unless already accomplished' is the only qualifier","Single operational requirement with clear deadline","No nested exceptions or subordinate clauses"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It mandates a safety modification to the steering system of specific Piper Cherokee Six aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners/operators of certain Piper PA-32-260 and PA-32-300 aircraft to modify their nose wheel steering systems\n- The modification must follow either Piper Service Bulletin No. 428 or FAA Airworthiness Directive 74-18-13\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of Piper Cherokee Six aircraft with specific serial numbers (32-7400001 to 32-7400050, 32-7440001 to 32-7440086, and 32-7440088 to 32-7440160)\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Airworthiness Directives are legally binding safety orders. Non-compliance means the aircraft cannot legally fly.\n- This addresses a specific safety defect in the steering system that could affect aircraft control during taxi, takeoff, or landing.\n- The deadline was 100 hours of flight time after 30 April 1978 (now long past, so this applies to historical compliance or newly discovered aircraft)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD text itself sets a specific requirement for steering-system modification on defined PA-32-260 and PA-32-300 aircraft serial-number ranges and specifies the compliance method and deadline. The instrument does not indicate any change from an earlier or different scope within the text provided; it states the applicability, the referenced documents to be followed, and the compliance window."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to specific models and explicit serial-number ranges (reduces complexity). (Applicability)","Mandatory compliance deadline expressed in hours time in service (requires operators to track flight hours). (Compliance)","Reliance on external technical documents (Piper SB No. 428 or FAA AD 74-18-13) for the actual modification instructions increases practical complexity for implementers. (Document)","The AD does not include the technical steps, parts list or estimated labour, so implementers must obtain and interpret other documents and arrange work (adds administrative burden). (Document)","Clear binary requirement (modify or already accomplished) and no alternatives or exemptions stated in the text (reduces decision complexity but increases obligation certainty). (Compliance)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires a modification to the steering system on specified Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) aeroplanes. The AD does not include the technical steps itself; it makes compliance dependent on one of two external documents: Piper Service Bulletin No. 428 or FAA AD 74-18-13. (Document)\n- Operators must complete the modification within 100 hours time in service after 30 April 1978, unless the modification has already been done. (Compliance)\n\nWho it affects\n\n- Owners/operators of Piper PA-32-260 and PA-32-300 aeroplanes with the serial number ranges listed in the AD. The AD lists three serial-number blocks that define which individual aircraft are subject to the requirement. (Applicability)\n\nWhy it matters (official claim and practical implications)\n\n- The AD’s title and requirement indicate its purpose is to ensure the steering system on the listed aircraft is modified in accordance with the referenced service instructions. The AD itself directs compliance to the external documents listed. (Title; Document)\n\nPractical mechanics, costs and incentives\n\n- Who pays: The owner/operator of each affected aeroplane must obtain the referenced document and cause the modification to be carried out on the aircraft they operate (Applicability; Document; Compliance).\n- What must be done: The operator must follow the procedures in either Piper SB No. 428 or FAA AD 74-18-13; the AD does not reproduce the technical instructions. (Document)\n- Timing and monitoring: Compliance is measured in hours time in service, with a deadline of within 100 hours TIS after 30 April 1978 unless already accomplished. Operators must track TIS to demonstrate timely compliance. (Compliance)\n- Compliance burden and operational effect: Implementing the modification will require accessing the referenced documents, scheduling and performing work, and incurring associated labour, parts and downtime costs. The AD does not state who performs the work, but compliance implies arranging for the modification to be executed and recorded. (Document; Compliance)\n\nDiscretion and enforcement\n\n- The directive sets a mandatory action and a specific compliance window; it gives no alternative procedure within the AD itself and requires following one of the two listed documents. The AD does not provide discretionary exemptions in its text. (Document; Compliance)\n\nTrade-offs, risks and implementation notes\n\n- Reliance on external documents means the AD’s technical content is located outside the AD; operators must obtain and apply those documents exactly. (Document)\n- The AD’s applicability is limited to clearly enumerated serial-number ranges; aircraft outside those serial numbers are not covered by this AD as written. (Applicability)\n- The text does not state penalties, monitoring mechanisms, or follow-up actions beyond the compliance requirement. (Compliance)\n\nSource citations (from the AD):\n- Applicability: lists affected models and serial-number ranges. (Applicability)\n- Required method: Piper SB No. 428 or FAA AD 74-18-13. (Document)\n- Timing: within 100 hours time in service after 30 April 1978 unless already accomplished. (Compliance)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-56-steering-system-modification/documents"}}