{"id":"F2006B05864","name":"AD/PA-32/67 - Rudder Skin - Inspection and Modification","slug":"ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":135888,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05864-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-32/67 - Rudder Skin - 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-32/67 Rudder Skin - Inspection and Modification 3/80\n\nApplicability: All models PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT-300T with S/Nos. referenced in Piper SL No. 882.\n\n \n\nDocument: 1. Piper SL No. 882; or\n\n \n\n2. FAA AD 79-26-04, Amdt. 39-3642.\n\n \n\nCompliance: 1. Inspect at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service after 23 January 1980 until modified.\n\n \n\n2. Modify in accordance with Piper SL No. 882 within 100 hours time in service after 23 January 1980.\n\n \n\nNote: Pilot may perform and certify for inspection in para. 1.\n\n \n\nBackground:  The manufacturer has received reports of small cracks developing in the area of the skin bead at the trailing edge of the rudder.\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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies to the aircraft models and serial numbers identified in Piper SL No. 882 and prescribes inspection and modification to address reported cracks in the rudder skin. The stated measures (short-interval inspections until modification, and a modification within 100 hours) align with the directive’s stated purpose of detecting and eliminating the cracking condition. There is no indication in the text that the population or required actions were broadened or narrowed beyond that remedial aim. (Applicability; Compliance paras. 1–2; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT-300T serial numbers listed in Piper SL No. 882 (Applicability).","Key actions are simple and time-boxed: repetitive inspection every 25 hours and modification within 100 hours (Compliance paras. 1–2).","Dependence on external documents (Piper SL No. 882 and FAA AD 79-26-04) for technical details increases administrative steps (Document).","Delegation of inspection authority to pilots reduces regulatory complexity but introduces variability in execution and certification (Note).","The directive states the safety concern (rudder skin cracks) but does not reproduce diagnostic or repair details, requiring cross-reference to other material (Background; Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of specified Piper PA-32RT-300/300T serials to inspect the rudder trailing-edge skin for cracks every 25 hours until a mandated modification is carried out, and to complete that modification per Piper Service Letter No. 882 (or FAA AD 79-26-04) within 100 hours.\n\nPilots may perform and certify the repetitive inspections; the compliance costs, scheduling and reliance on the referenced service letter fall to operators."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific airworthiness issue with specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing rudder skin cracks in the identified Piper models."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 2 defined compliance actions (inspection and modification)","Single applicability criterion (specific aircraft models and serial numbers)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the cited service letter and FAA AD","Simple temporal trigger (date-based with flight hours countdown)","One explicit exception/note (pilot may perform inspection)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of Piper PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT-300T aircraft (known as Cherokee Six planes) with specific serial numbers listed in Piper Service Letter No. 882.\n\n**What it requires:**\n- **Inspection:** Check the rudder skin for cracks every 25 hours of flight time, starting from 23 January 1980, until the modification is done. Pilots are allowed to do this inspection themselves and sign it off.\n- **Modification:** Fix the rudder permanently according to Piper's instructions within 100 hours of flight time after 23 January 1980.\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer found small cracks forming in the rudder skin near the trailing edge. Since the rudder controls the aircraft's direction, cracks there could lead to loss of control. This AD prevents accidents by catching the problem early and requiring a permanent fix.\n\n**Key documents to follow:** Either Piper Service Letter No. 882 or the equivalent US Federal Aviation Administration directive (FAA AD 79-26-04)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-32-67-rudder-skin-inspection-and-modification/documents"}}