{"id":"F2006B05969","name":"AD/PA-38/4 Amdt 1 - Pilots Control Wheel Installations - Inspection and Modification","slug":"ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136153,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05969-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-38/4 Amdt 1 - Pilots Control Wheel Installations - Inspection and 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-38/4\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nPilot’s Control Wheel Installations - Inspection and Modification\n\n\n9/87\n\n \n\nApplicability: As detailed in Piper SB No. 609A. Document:  Piper SB No. 609A.\n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, in accordance with SB No. 609, within 25 hours time in service after 31 October 1978.\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":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a narrow, targeted safety directive focused specifically on control wheel installations in one aircraft type. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","No defined terms section — relies entirely on external reference to Piper Service Bulletin No. 609A","Single, clear compliance requirement with one condition ('unless already accomplished')","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond the basic applicability and deadline","Minimal cross-referencing (only to the external 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). Think of it as a \"recall notice\" for aircraft, but legally binding.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of **Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aeroplanes** to inspect and modify the pilot's control wheel (the \"steering wheel\" the pilot holds) according to specific instructions in **Piper Service Bulletin No. 609A**.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns, operates, or maintains a Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aircraft in Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:** Control wheel failures can lead to loss of aircraft control. This directive addresses a known safety defect to prevent accidents.\n\n**The deadline:** The work had to be completed within **25 hours of flying time** after 31 October 1978 — unless it was already done. (Note: This is a historical directive from 1978, so compliance would have been required decades ago for aircraft in service at that time.)"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument is titled 'AD/PA-38/4 Amdt 1', indicating it is the first amendment to the original AD/PA-38/4. The supplied text itself does not state what elements of the earlier AD were altered; it sets the applicability to Piper SB No. 609A and the compliance timing, but the specific differences from the original AD cannot be determined from the provided text alone."},"complexity_factors":["External dependency: the AD delegates all technical steps to Piper Service Bulletin No. 609A, so compliance requires obtaining and following that external document (Applicability line).","Short compliance window: a tight deadline (within 25 hours time in service after 31 October 1978) creates scheduling pressure for affected operators (Compliance line).","Limited text detail: the AD itself contains no technical instructions, parts lists, or alternative compliance paths, increasing practical complexity despite short textual length (title, Applicability, Compliance).","Amendment status: document is labelled 'Amdt 1', indicating it modifies an earlier AD; the supplied text does not state what changed from the original, requiring cross-reference to prior documents for full scope history (header)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of affected Piper PA‑38 (Tomahawk) aeroplanes to inspect—and, if necessary, modify—the pilot’s control‑wheel installation in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 609A. Work must be completed within 25 hours time‑in‑service after 31 October 1978. Compliance costs and technical steps are those set out in the referenced service bulletin."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-4-amdt-1-pilots-control-wheel-installations-inspection-and-modification/documents"}}