{"id":"F2006B05920","name":"AD/PA-34/5 - Stabilator Tip Balance Weight - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136005,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05920-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-34/5 - Stabilator Tip Balance Weight - 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-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-34/5 Stabilator Tip Balance Weight - Inspection 9/72\n\nApplicability: All models with S/Nos. 34-E4 and 34-7250001 to 34-7250335. Document:  Piper SB No. 367.\n\nCompliance: 1. Initial Inspection - prior to further flight after 12 September 1972.\n\n \n\n2. Hardware Replacement - as detailed in requirement document.\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\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive focused specifically on stabilator tip balance weights for one aircraft model. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 2 substantive requirements (inspection and hardware replacement)","Single applicability criterion (specific serial number range)","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Single reference document (Piper Service Bulletin No. 367)","No conditional logic or nested exceptions"],"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) that requires aircraft owners and operators to perform specific inspections or repairs.\n\n**What it does:** This AD applies to **Piper PA-34 Seneca aeroplanes** (a twin-engine aircraft) with specific serial numbers. It mandates:\n- **An inspection** of the **stabilator tip balance weight** — a counterweight at the end of the horizontal tail surface that prevents dangerous vibrations (flutter) in flight\n- **Replacement of hardware** as specified in Piper Service Bulletin No. 367\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of affected Piper PA-34 aircraft with serial numbers 34-E4 and 34-7250001 through 34-7250335.\n\n**Why it matters:** Balance weights are critical for flight safety. If they fail or detach, the aircraft's tail can experience destructive aerodynamic flutter, potentially causing loss of control. This AD ensures these weights are inspected and properly secured before the aircraft flies again after 12 September 1972.\n\n**Compliance deadline:** The initial inspection had to be completed **before further flight after 12 September 1972** — meaning this was an urgent, grounding-level safety issue when issued."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope, as stated, applies only to the listed Piper PA-34 serial numbers and requires an inspection and any necessary hardware replacement per Piper SB No. 367. There is no indication in the directive text provided that the scope has been expanded or altered from the action described in the document (Applicability; Compliance 1; Compliance 2; Document)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and explicit applicability: single aircraft type and limited serial-number range (Applicability).","Simple, time-critical requirement: one initial inspection before further flight after a specified date (Compliance 1).","Mandatory hardware replacement but no technical steps in the AD itself—procedural details are delegated to an external Service Bulletin (Compliance 2; Document).","Operational dependency on availability of Piper SB No. 367 and on licensed maintenance personnel and spare parts (Document; Compliance 2).","Potential for immediate operational impact (grounding until inspection/replacement) despite the AD's concise text (Compliance 1)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD, issued by CASA, requires owners/operators of specified Piper PA‑34 (Seneca) aircraft (listed serial numbers) to inspect stabilator tip balance weights immediately and, if necessary, replace hardware per Piper Service Bulletin No. 367 before further flight. Compliance is mandatory and may ground affected aircraft until work is done; operators bear parts, labour and downtime costs and must rely on the referenced Service Bulletin for technical procedures."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-5-stabilator-tip-balance-weight-inspection/documents"}}