{"id":"F2006B05984","name":"AD/PA-42/18 - Elevator Upper Skin Cracking","slug":"ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":136192,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B05984-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PA-42/18 - Elevator Upper Skin Cracking","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-42 (Cheyenne III) Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PA-42/18 Elevator Upper Skin Cracking 10/88\n\nApplicability: PA-42, PA42-720R, PA42-720 and PA42-1000; with Serial Numbers listed in the Requirement Document.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Piper SB No 887.\n\n \n\nCompliance: At the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 6 October 1988 or within 100 hours time in service after 6 October 1988 whichever is the later.\n\n \n\nBackground: There have been reports of cracking developing in the top outboard area of the elevator skin. If uncorrected these could propagate and result in the loss of structural integrity.\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":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":1595},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This directive remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing a specific structural defect (elevator skin cracking) on specific aircraft models. There is no evidence of scope expansion beyond the original safety intent."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference of external technical document (Piper Service Bulletin No 887) without reproducing the actual inspection procedures","Specialized aviation terminology requiring technical knowledge (elevator skin, Maintenance Release, time in service)","Dual-trigger compliance deadline requiring calculation based on calendar date versus flight hours"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of specified Piper Cheyenne III (PA-42 series, certain serials) to inspect the elevator upper skin—top outboard corners—for cracks and repair per Piper Service Bulletin No. 887. \n\nCracks can grow and lead to elevator structural failure and loss of control. Inspection is due at the next maintenance after 6 Oct 1988 or within 100 flight hours after that date, whichever is later."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-42-18-elevator-upper-skin-cracking/documents"}}