{"id":"F2006B05971","name":"AD/PA-38/6 - Rear Spar Attach Fittings - Inspection","slug":"ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136158,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05971-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-38/6 - Rear Spar Attach Fittings - 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-38/6 Rear Spar Attach Fittings - Inspection 11/78\n\nApplicability: All model PA-38-112 with S/Nos. as referenced in SB No. 618. Document:  Piper SB No. 618.\n\nCompliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 6 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\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1978 addressing a specific structural inspection requirement. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring rear spar attach fitting integrity on affected PA-38 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — only 4 substantive lines of regulatory text","No defined terms section — relies entirely on external reference to Piper SB No. 618","Single, unambiguous compliance requirement (10 hours time in service)","No nested conditions, exceptions, or cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent regulation (CAR 1998 Part 39)","Applicability determined by simple aircraft model and serial number criteria"],"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) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aircraft to inspect the **rear spar attach fittings** — the metal brackets that connect the rear wing spar (the main structural beam running through the wing) to the aircraft fuselage. This inspection must follow the procedures outlined in **Piper Service Bulletin No. 618**.\n\n**Who it affects:** All **Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk** aircraft with serial numbers listed in that service bulletin.\n\n**Why it matters:** The rear spar attach fittings are critical structural components. If they crack or fail, the wing could separate from the fuselage in flight. This AD was issued to catch potential defects before they cause catastrophic failure.\n\n**When compliance was required:** Within **10 hours of flying time** after **6 October 1978**.\n\n**Key point:** This is not optional. Airworthiness Directives are legally binding. Flying an aircraft without complying with an applicable AD is a breach of aviation law and grounds the aircraft until fixed."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD, as presented, sets a limited and specific scope: inspections of rear spar attach fittings on PA-38-112 aircraft whose serial numbers are listed in Piper SB No. 618, to be completed within 10 hours TIS after 6 October 1978. There is no material in the provided text indicating a change of scope from the instrument's stated applicability or requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Short, specific scope limited to PA-38-112 serial numbers referenced in Piper SB No. 618 (Applicability; Document).","External dependency on a manufacturer service bulletin for procedural detail (Document: Piper SB No. 618).","Tight compliance window (10 hours time in service after 6 October 1978) requiring expedited scheduling (Compliance).","Regulatory provenance under Civil Aviation Regulations Part 39 — formal legal requirement though text is brief (AD header).","Lack of procedural detail in the AD itself increases operational reliance on the service bulletin and maintenance judgement (Document)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD (CASA) requires inspection of rear spar attach fittings on specified Piper PA‑38‑112 aeroplanes (those S/Ns listed in Piper Service Bulletin No. 618), to be completed within 10 hours time‑in‑service after 6 October 1978. It affects the listed aircraft owners/operators and the maintenance personnel who must follow the service bulletin; owners bear inspection/repair costs and may face short aircraft downtime."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-6-rear-spar-attach-fittings-inspection/documents"}}