{"id":"F2006B05973","name":"AD/PA-38/8 Amdt 3 - Engine Mount Tubes - Inspection and Modification","slug":"ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136163,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05973-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-38/8 Amdt 3 - Engine Mount Tubes - 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-38/8\n\nAmdt 3\n\n\nEngine Mount Tubes - Inspection and Modification 4/81\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models PA-38-112 with S/Nos. 38-78A0001 to 38-78A0678. Document:  Piper SB No. 617B.\n\nCompliance: As per requirement document.\n\n \n\nBackground: Amendment “B” of Piper SB No. 617 extends the affected aeroplanes to additional serial numbers.\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":true,"description":"This Amendment 3 explicitly expands the scope beyond the original directive. The background note states that 'Amendment B' of the manufacturer's service bulletin extends coverage to 'additional serial numbers,' meaning the AD now captures more aircraft than originally intended. This is a straightforward scope expansion to address newly identified safety risks in previously unaffected aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined applicability criterion (serial number range)","Single reference to external technical document (Piper SB 617B) — actual compliance requirements are 'offshored' to that document","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Minimal regulatory machinery — essentially a pointer to manufacturer instructions"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It applies to specific Piper PA-38 Tomahawk aircraft (a type of light training plane).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners/operators of affected aircraft to inspect and potentially modify the **engine mount tubes** — the metal framework that holds the engine to the airframe.\n- The work must follow **Piper Service Bulletin No. 617B** (a manufacturer's technical instruction).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of Piper PA-38-112 aircraft with serial numbers from 38-78A0001 to 38-78A0678.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Engine mount failures can be catastrophic. This AD ensures structural integrity of the engine attachment, preventing potential in-flight engine separation or loss of control.\n- **Amendment 3** expands the scope — more aircraft are now covered than in earlier versions because Piper updated their service bulletin to include additional serial numbers."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The AD text explicitly records that Amendment \"B\" of Piper SB No. 617 extends the affected aeroplanes to additional serial numbers (Background). That means the scope of aircraft subject to the inspection and modification requirement has been broadened compared to the prior issuance of the service bulletin or earlier amendment; the AD now mandates compliance for the serial-number range 38-78A0001 to 38-78A0678 (Applicability)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, clearly specified applicability by serial number (Applicability).","Substantive technical requirements are not in the AD text but are delegated to an external document (Piper SB No. 617B) (Document: Piper SB No. 617B; Compliance: As per requirement document).","Lack of procedural detail in the AD increases reliance on the service bulletin for inspection criteria, modification steps, and acceptance (Compliance: As per requirement document).","Regulatory binding nature of an AD imposes compliance obligations on owners/operators despite the AD's brevity (Applicability; Compliance).","Potential operational and scheduling impacts (grounding/time for maintenance) are not quantified in the AD, creating implementation uncertainty."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates inspection and, if required, modification of engine mount tubes on Piper PA‑38‑112 aircraft serials 38‑78A0001 through 38‑78A0678 by requiring compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 617B. It affects owners/operators and maintenance organisations, who bear inspection/modification costs; Amendment B expands the fleet covered, making the SB’s technical requirements mandatory for those serial numbers."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-38-8-amdt-3-engine-mount-tubes-inspection-and-modification/documents"}}