{"id":"F2006B05957","name":"AD/PA-38/19 - Aileron Balance Weight Rib - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136119,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05957-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-38/19 - Aileron Balance Weight Rib - 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-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-38/19 Aileron Balance Weight Rib - Inspection 11/81\n\nApplicability: All models PA-38-112 with S/Nos. 38-78A0001 to 38-81A0051 and 38-81A0105. Document:               Piper SB No. 723.\n\nCompliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 22 September 1981, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in until modified by incorporation of Piper Kit P/N 764 140.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer has received reports of cracks developing in flange area of the aileron balance weight rib P/Nos. 77342-16 and -17.\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, targeted safety directive addressing a specific airworthiness concern. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspections for a known defect in specific aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words of substantive content)","Only 2 defined applicability criteria (model and serial number ranges)","Single compliance pathway with clear time intervals","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the enabling Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","No conditional logic or exceptions — straightforward mandatory requirement","Single technical reference to manufacturer service bulletin"],"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) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of certain Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aeroplanes to **inspect the aileron balance weight rib** (a structural part of the wing that helps control the aileron) for cracks.\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of Piper PA-38-112 aircraft with specific serial numbers: 38-78A0001 through 38-81A0051, and 38-81A0105.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **First inspection:** Within 25 hours of flying time after 22 September 1981\n- **Ongoing inspections:** Every 100 hours of flying time thereafter\n- **Permanent fix:** Install Piper Kit Part Number 764 140 (which ends the need for repeated inspections)\n\n**Why it matters:** The manufacturer (Piper) reported cracks developing in this part. If left unchecked, these cracks could compromise the aircraft's structural integrity and flight safety. This AD ensures potential failures are caught before they become dangerous.\n\n**Key document reference:** Piper Service Bulletin No. 723 provides the technical details for the inspection."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The document itself sets a clear, limited scope: inspect aileron balance weight ribs on identified PA-38-112 serial numbers until the specified kit is installed. The AD does not indicate any expansion or contraction of that scope within the text provided."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to specific serial numbers (reduces general complexity).","Single recurring action (inspection) with a clear initial deadline and interval (25 hours, then 100 hours).","Termination condition tied to a single specific modification (Piper Kit P/N 764 140) which simplifies compliance choices.","Dependence on an external service bulletin (Piper SB No. 723) for procedural detail introduces moderate operational dependency and potential ambiguity if the SB is unclear.","No multiple corrective paths or staged requirements; only inspection or modification are specified."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of specified Piper PA-38-112 (serials 38-78A0001 to 38-81A0051 and 38-81A0105) to inspect the aileron balance weight rib for cracking per Piper Service Bulletin No. 723—first within 25 hours TIS from 22 Sep 1981, then every 100 hours until Piper Kit P/N 764140 is fitted.  \n\nIt responds to reported rib cracks and imposes inspection or modification costs on those owners/operators who must choose between recurring inspections or a one‑time kit installation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-19-aileron-balance-weight-rib-inspection/documents"}}