{"id":"F2005L00208","name":"AD/PA-34/52 Amdt 1 - Control Wheel Attachment","slug":"ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":33728,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L00208-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/PA-34/52 Amdt 1 | Control Wheel Attachment | 3/2005 |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------ | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Group A aircraft:Models Serial NumbersPA-34-220T Seneca V 3449042 through 3449292Group B aircraft:PA-34-220T Seneca V 3449293 through 3449301 |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | 1. For aircraft listed in Group A of the applicability part of this Directive, with the exception of aircraft listed in Group A that are already modified in accordance with the New Piper Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1139, dated 28 August 2003; accomplish the following in accordance with Part I of SB No.1139A dated 9 April 2004:a. Inspect the control wheel attachment screw for proper thread engagement (minimum one thread showing past the end of the nut plate), and replace the screw before further flight if insufficient thread engagement is found.b. Inspect the nut plate for sufficient locking characteristics. If the screw can be fully inserted into the nut plate by hand (one thread showing past end of nut), then replacement of the nut plate is required before further flight.c. Reassemble the control wheel onto the control wheel shaft and install the attachment screw using Loctite thread-locking compound.2. For aircraft listed in Group A or Group B of the applicability part of this Directive, install retainer clip part number 104687-002 in accordance with Part II of SB No. 1139A, dated 9 April 2004.Note: Corrected FAA AD 2004-14-12 Amdt 39-13721 refers. |\n\n| Compliance: | 1. Within 25 hours time in service after 11 August 2004.2. Within 100 hours time in service after 11 August 2004.The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| | This Amendment becomes effective on 17 March 2005. |\n| Background: | The FAA received a report that a Model PA-28-181 aircraft crashed after the pilot lost control of the ailerons and elevator. Investigation revealed that the left control wheel single attachment screw had unscrewed from its nut plate, which resulted in the control wheel spinning freely on the control column. Further investigation revealed the screw was too short and the nut plate lacked proper locking characteristics.Amendment 1 is issued in response to the issue of a corrected copy of the related FAA AD, which corrects certain parts of the text. The only part requiring correction of this Directive was Requirement 1. text, “Part I of SB No. 1139 dated 9 April 2004” which was changed to “Part I of SB No. 1139A dated 9 April 2004”. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nDavid Punshon \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n4 February 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PA-34/52 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PA-34/52 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/PA-34/52 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Control Wheel Attachment","sectionType":"part","heading":"Control Wheel Attachment","content":"## Control Wheel Attachment","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"3/2005","content":"## 3/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment corrects the text of the original directive by changing the service bulletin reference to New Piper Service Bulletin No. 1139A (dated 9 April 2004). The substantive requirements, affected serial numbers, actions required (inspection/replacement and retainer clip installation), part number, and compliance times remain unchanged. Therefore the scope of operational obligations on owners/operators has not grown beyond the original intent; this is a corrective amendment to clarify which service bulletin must be followed."},"complexity_factors":["Two defined applicability groups based on serial number ranges (Group A and Group B)","Exception for Group A aircraft already modified per an earlier Service Bulletin","Two separate mandatory actions (Part I: inspection/possible replacement; Part II: retainer clip installation)","Two different compliance deadlines (25 hours TIS and 100 hours TIS)","Cross-reference to an external document: New Piper Service Bulletin No. 1139A dated 9 April 2004 (Parts I and II)","Specific pass/fail criteria in Requirement 1 (minimum one thread showing past end of nut plate; nut plate locking characteristics)","A specified replacement part number for the retainer clip (104687-002)","Correction to an earlier text reference (change from SB No. 1139 to SB No. 1139A) necessitating this amendment"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires inspection and corrective action on the control‑wheel attachment screw/nut plate and mandatory installation of a retainer clip on specified Piper PA‑34‑220T (Seneca V) aeroplanes (serials 3449042–3449301, with Group A/B distinction). The goal is to prevent screw back‑out and loss of wheel attachment after an accident found insufficient thread engagement and locking.\n\nAffected owners/operators must complete the screw/nut checks within 25 hours TIS and the clip installation within 100 hours TIS (both after 11 Aug 2004); owners pay parts, labour and downtime."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 1 to an existing directive. The amendment is purely technical — it corrects a document reference from 'SB No. 1139' to 'SB No. 1139A' to match a corrected FAA directive. The scope (which aircraft are affected and what actions are required) remains identical to the original AD/PA-34/52."},"complexity_factors":["Two distinct aircraft groups with different compliance requirements","Cross-reference to external technical document (FAA AD 2004-14-12)","Reference to specific service bulletin (SB No. 1139A) with dated versions","Specific part numbers and chemical compounds (Loctite) referenced","Dual compliance timelines (25 hours vs 100 hours time in service)","Nested exception in Requirement 1 (Group A aircraft already modified per earlier SB are exempt from inspection)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety fix ordered by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) for specific Piper PA-34 Seneca V aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners/operators of certain Piper Seneca V planes to inspect and potentially replace parts of the control wheel (steering yoke) attachment mechanism. The concern is that a screw holding the control wheel to the column could come loose, causing the pilot to lose control of the plane — which reportedly caused a crash in a similar aircraft model.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Group A:** PA-34-220T Seneca V planes with serial numbers 3449042 through 3449292 (must do full inspection and install a retainer clip)\n- **Group B:** PA-34-220T Seneca V planes with serial numbers 3449293 through 3449301 (only need to install the retainer clip)\n\n**What must be done:**\n1. **For Group A:** Inspect the screw and nut plate that attach the control wheel; replace if the screw is too short or the nut plate doesn't grip properly; reassemble using thread-locking compound; install a retainer clip\n2. **For Group A & B:** Install a retainer clip (part number 104687-002) as an extra safety measure\n\n**When:**\n- Inspections must be done within 25 flight hours after 11 August 2004\n- Retainer clip installation within 100 flight hours after 11 August 2004\n\n**Why it matters:**\nA loose control wheel means the pilot cannot steer the aircraft. This directive prevents a known mechanical failure that has already caused at least one fatal crash."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-52-amdt-1-control-wheel-attachment/documents"}}