{"id":"F2006B05966","name":"AD/PA-38/27 Amdt 2 - Wing Fatigue","slug":"ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136144,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05966-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"New retirement life = 21,950 hrs - ( 0.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"New retirement life = 21,950 hrs - ( 0.3 x hrs accumulated prior to modification )","content":"# New retirement life \\= 21,950 hrs \\- ( 0.3 x hrs accumulated prior to modification )\n\nNote 1: Example 1, an aircraft with 9,000 hours already accumulated without the modification:\n\nNew retirement life \\= 21,950 \\- (0.3 x 9,000) \\= 19,250 hours.\n\nExample 2, an aircraft with 11,000 hours already accumulated without the modification:\n\nNew retirement life \\= 21,950 \\- (0.3 x 11,000) \\= 18,650 hours.\n\nNote 2: For assistance with incorporating this STC, write to the STC owner, Mr Paul\n\nM. Sterling, 13113 SE 228th Place, Kent, WA, USA, 98031.\n\n2. Initially, at 100 flight hours after installation of the wing spar strap, then every 100 flight hours thereafter.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"part","heading":"Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes","content":"# Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/PA-38/27 Amdt 2 (continued)\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 13 May 2004.\n\nBackground: This AD mandates the replacement requirements and schedule listed in the Maintenance Manual and the Country of Origin FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet.\n\nThis amendment includes a note with contact details for the STC owner, so that owners and operators may obtain assistance in incorporating the modification. There is no change to the requirements or compliance.\n\nAmendment 1 provided an option for the incorporation of an FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), which provides for a wing spar reinforcement strap to be installed to extend wing life. A formula is also provided so that a new retirement life can be calculated for aircraft that incorporate the modification listed in the STC. An ongoing inspection requirement, which is specified in the STC, is also added for aircraft that have the spar strap installed.\n\nThe original issue of this AD became effective on 26 February 1998.\n\n![Signature of David Villiers, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.002.png)  \n\nDavid Villiers\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Amendment 2 is purely administrative — it only adds contact details for the STC owner to help operators implement the modification. The substantive requirements (wing retirement, STC option, inspection schedule, and calculation formula) remain unchanged from Amendment 1. The original scope — preventing wing fatigue failures in PA-38 aircraft — has not expanded."},"complexity_factors":["Mathematical formula with variable inputs requiring calculation (new retirement life formula)","Cross-reference to external documents (FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet, Maintenance Manual, and FAA Supplemental Type Certificate)","Conditional compliance paths (original retirement life vs. modified retirement life with STC)","Ongoing recurring inspection requirement (every 100 flight hours)","Amendment structure with multiple versions (original 1998, Amendment 1, Amendment 2) creating version confusion","International component (US-based STC owner, FAA-approved modification)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive for Piper PA‑38 Tomahawk aircraft mandates retirement or replacement of wings reaching fatigue limits but permits installation of a certified wing-spar reinforcement strap to extend safe life. It gives a formula to calculate the new life credit based on prior hours, requires recurring 100‑hour inspections after modification, and affects owners, operators and maintenance engineers — a safety measure to prevent wing failure while allowing an approved life-extension option."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment does not change the technical requirements or compliance times of the original AD; it adds a contact note for the STC owner and reiterates the option introduced in Amendment 1 to incorporate an FAA‑approved STC and the accompanying inspection schedule. The core scope—replacement requirements per the Maintenance Manual and FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet, the STC option and the inspection cadence—remains the same."},"complexity_factors":["Simple arithmetic formula for new retirement life (21,950 − 0.3 × prior hours) and worked examples reduce technical calculation complexity.","Dependence on external documents: replacement requirements and schedule remain those in the Maintenance Manual and FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (Background), creating cross‑referencing and implementation complexity.","Optional incorporation of an FAA STC (Amendment 1) introduces a procedural choice for owners (modify under STC or retain original procedure), affecting cost and operational life calculations.","Ongoing mandatory inspection cadence (initial at 100 flight hours after installation, then every 100 hours) imposes discrete, recurring maintenance burden and record‑keeping obligations.","Administrative step: contact details for the STC owner are added (Note 2), so owners may rely on third‑party assistance to implement the STC, shifting some implementation costs to operators but dependency to the STC holder.","Retroactive element: the formula uses hours accumulated prior to modification, so historical flight‑hour records must be accurate for correct retirement‑life calculation.","Regulatory clarity: the amendment states there is no change to requirements or compliance, which reduces legal uncertainty but requires implementers to reconcile prior Amendment 1 options with current obligations.","Formalisation: effective dates, signature and Gazette notification create binding timing and administrative compliance milestones that operators must observe."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD amendment tells owners/operators of Piper PA‑38 (Tomahawk) aeroplanes how to recalculate wing retirement life when an FAA‑approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) reinforcement strap is fitted, using a simple formula that deducts 30% of hours accumulated before modification from a 21,950‑hour baseline. It also requires an ongoing inspection every 100 flight hours after installation. The amendment adds contact details for the STC owner to assist with incorporation; it does not change existing technical requirements or compliance times."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-27-amdt-2-wing-fatigue/documents"}}