{"id":"F2006B05952","name":"AD/PA-38/14 - Control Column Installation - Modification","slug":"ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136107,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05952-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-38/14 - Control Column Installation - 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-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-38/14 Control Column Installation - Modification 11/79\n\nApplicability: All models PA-38-112 with S/Nos. 38-78A0001 to 38-79A1160. Document:  Piper SB No. 661.\n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, within 100 hours time in service after 30 November 1979.\n\n \n\nBackground:  It has been reported to the manufacturer that roughness or binding of the control shaft in the instrument panel can occur at the extremes of control movement.\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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies only to the explicitly listed PA-38-112 serial numbers and prescribes a modification per Piper SB No. 661 to be completed within a specified time-in-service window. The text contains no indication that the AD’s scope has been altered from its original formulation (Applicability; Compliance; Document)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to a single model and a defined serial-number range (Applicability).","Clear, short compliance deadline (100 hours TIS after 30 November 1979) reduces procedural ambiguity but creates a scheduling burden (Compliance).","Substantive modification details are not contained in the AD and require consulting Piper SB No. 661, adding procedural dependency on an external document (Document: Piper SB No. 661).","No alternative compliance paths or exemptions are specified in the AD text, which concentrates decision-making on complying with the SB or seeking separate approvals (Document).","Outcome-based statement of the problem (roughness/binding) is brief and technical; assessing whether the SB fully mitigates the issue requires review of the service bulletin (Background; Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates a Piper Service Bulletin No. 661 modification to the control column installation on PA-38-112 aeroplanes serials 38-78A0001 through 38-79A1160 to cure reported control-shaft roughness/binding. Owners/operators of those aircraft must arrange and fund the work.\n\nIf not already done, the modification must be completed within 100 hours TIS after 30 November 1979; the AD directs compliance to the manufacturer’s SB and contains no alternative method."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive from 1979 with a single, specific purpose. It has not expanded beyond its original scope of requiring a specific modification to address a control column binding issue."},"complexity_factors":["Single, clearly defined applicability (specific aircraft model and serial number range)","Single compliance requirement with clear deadline","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulations","Straightforward conditional logic (unless already accomplished)","One-page document with minimal text"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. An Airworthiness Directive is essentially a mandatory safety notice that requires aircraft owners or operators to fix a specific problem.\n\n**What it does:** This directive applies to Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aeroplanes (specifically serial numbers 38-78A0001 through 38-79A1160). It requires a modification to the control column installation—the physical mechanism pilots use to steer the aircraft.\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer reported that the control shaft can become rough or bind (stick/jam) when moved to its extreme positions. This is a serious safety issue because if the pilot's control stick jams during flight, they could lose control of the aircraft. The directive mandates compliance within 100 hours of flight time after 30 November 1979, unless the fix has already been done.\n\n**Who must act:** Owners and operators of the specified Piper PA-38 aircraft models. They must follow Piper Service Bulletin No. 661 to complete the required modification."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-14-control-column-installation-modification/documents"}}