{"id":"F2006B05925","name":"AD/PA-34/9 - Rudder Servo Trim Tab - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136010,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05925-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-34/9 - Rudder Servo Trim Tab - 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-34/9 Rudder Servo Trim Tab - Inspection 6/73\n\nApplicability: All models not incorporating modification kit P/N 760 800 V. Document:  Piper SB No. 390A.\n\nCompliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 25 June 1973 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.\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\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD’s scope is explicit in the text: it applies to all PA-34 models that have not incorporated modification kit P/N 760 800 V and directs inspections per Piper SB No. 390A with specified time-in-service windows (Applicability; Document; Compliance). The instrument itself contains no text indicating a change in scope from an earlier or original version, so there is no basis in the supplied text to conclude the scope has changed."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, specific applicability: only PA-34 models without modification kit P/N 760 800 V (Applicability)","Single, simple compliance schedule: initial inspection within 10 hours after a fixed date, then every 100 hours TIS (Compliance)","Dependence on an external procedural document (Piper SB No. 390A) for how to perform the inspection (Document)","Requires measuring and tracking time-in-service hours for scheduling (Compliance)","Historic/fixed start date (25 June 1973) which may complicate retrospective record checks (Compliance)","Regulatory basis is an airworthiness directive under Part 39 (Header), so non-compliance has regulatory consequences"],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive requires owners/operators of Piper PA‑34 aircraft that have not installed modification kit P/N 760‑800‑V to inspect the rudder servo trim tab per Piper Service Bulletin No. 390A. The first inspection is due within 10 hours TIS after 25 June 1973 and then every 100 hours TIS; operators bear the inspection and repair costs, or may install the kit to be exempt."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1973 addressing a specific mechanical inspection requirement. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring rudder trim tab integrity on Piper PA-34 aircraft. The scope remains precisely as intended: a targeted safety intervention for a known defect."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 3 operative requirements: applicability exclusion, document reference, and compliance timing","No defined terms section — all language is plain operational English","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Single condition (modification kit P/N 760 800 V) with no nested exceptions","Linear compliance structure (one-time + recurring interval) with no alternative compliance methods or conditional pathways"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of **Piper PA-34 Seneca aeroplanes** to inspect the **rudder servo trim tab** — a small adjustable surface on the tail that helps keep the plane flying straight without constant pilot input on the rudder pedals.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of all Piper PA-34 models **except** those that have already been modified with kit part number 760 800 V\n- Maintenance engineers who work on these aircraft\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **First inspection:** Within 10 hours of flying time after 25 June 1973\n- **Ongoing inspections:** Every 100 hours of flying time thereafter\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis directive was issued because of a safety concern identified in **Piper Service Bulletin No. 390A** (a manufacturer notice about potential defects). The rudder trim tab is critical for stable flight. If it fails, the pilot could lose control of the aircraft's yaw (side-to-side movement), potentially causing a crash.\n\n**In short:** If you own or fly a Piper Seneca that hasn't had a specific factory modification, you must get this trim tab checked regularly — or the aircraft is not legally airworthy."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-34-9-rudder-servo-trim-tab-inspection/documents"}}