{"id":"F2009L01451","name":"AD/PA-46/35 - Current Limiters","slug":"ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":77985,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L01451-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Piper PA-46 (Malibu) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/PA-46/35 | Current Limiters | 6/2009 DM |\n| ----------- | ---------------- | --------- |\n\n```html\n

Applicability:

Model PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T aeroplanes with the following serial numbers:

Model

Serial Number

PA-46-350P
PA-46R-350T

4636375 through 4636447
4692001 through 4692068

Requirement:

1. Amend the Limitations Section of the aircraft flight manual (AFM) to insert the following statement. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the AFM.

“Operate Only under Day Visual Flight Rules (VFR).”

The AFM amendment may be carried out by the aircraft owner/operator provided that they hold at least a private pilot licence.

2. Inspect the 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters for installation in the proper location by following the procedures in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) 2000 dated 16 September 2008.

3. If, as a result of the Requirement 2 inspection, any current limiter is not in the proper location, reinstall the current limiter in the proper location in accordance with the procedures in SB 2000.

The AFM amendment may be removed when it has been verified that the current limiters are installed in the proper locations (Requirement 2) or when the current limiters have been reinstalled in the proper locations (Requirement 3).

Later revisions of the above SB, approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to FAA AD 2009-07-08, are considered acceptable for compliance with the equivalent Requirements of this Directive.

Note: FAA AD 2009-07-08 Amdt 39 15867 refers.

Compliance:

For Requirement 1 - Before further flight after 5 May 2009.

\n```\n\n| | For Requirement 2 - Within 100 hours time in service after 5 May 2009. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| | For Requirement 3 - Before further flight after the Requirement 2 inspection is accomplished. |\n| | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 May 2009. |\n| Background: | This Directive requires an inspection of the 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters to verify they are installed in the proper locations and correct the installation if the current limiters are not installed in the proper locations. The Directive also limits operation to \"only under day visual flight rules (VFR)'' until the current limiter installation is inspected and corrected. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nJames Coyne \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n17 April 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PA-46/35","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PA-46/35","content":"## AD/PA-46/35","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Current Limiters","sectionType":"part","heading":"Current Limiters","content":"## Current Limiters","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"6/2009 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"6/2009 DM","content":"## 6/2009 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific electrical installation issue in a limited fleet of aircraft. The scope remains precisely focused on the current limiter inspection and temporary operational restrictions. There is no evidence of scope creep beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose directive with only 3 requirements","Clear applicability table with specific aircraft models and serial numbers","Simple conditional logic: if inspection finds problem → fix it → then remove restriction","Cross-reference to external technical document (Piper Service Bulletin SB 2000) for detailed procedures","Reference to US FAA Airworthiness Directive for alternative compliance methods","No defined terms section — uses standard aviation terminology (VFR, AFM, AMOC)","Straightforward compliance dates tied to specific calendar date and flight hours"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD orders owners/operators of specified Piper Malibu PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T aircraft to immediately restrict operations to daylight VFR until a mandatory inspection is done. Within 100 flight hours after 5 May 2009, the 35‑amp and 250‑amp current limiters must be inspected and relocated if incorrectly installed before further flight. It affects the listed aircraft owners/operators and pilots — a safety measure to prevent electrical failures and aligns with an FAA directive."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Directive remains narrowly focused on ensuring correct installation of the 35‑amp and 250‑amp current limiters and imposing a temporary operational restriction until verification/correction. It does not broaden obligations beyond inspection, correction, and a temporary AFM limitation; therefore it has not expanded the legislation’s scope beyond its original safety‑focused intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short document with three discrete requirements (Requirements 1–3).","Specific applicability limited to two models and a narrow serial‑number range (two serial ranges listed).","Two external cross‑references: Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 2000 and FAA AD 2009‑07‑08 (and acceptance of later FAA‑approved SB revisions as AMOC).","Simple conditional logic: AFM limitation inserted until inspection or correction verified; removal conditional on verification/correction.","A small operational exception: owner/operator may perform AFM amendment if holding at least a private pilot licence.","Timing conditions: different compliance windows for Requirement 1 (immediate), Requirement 2 (within 100 hours TIS), and Requirement 3 (before further flight after inspection)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument changes (mechanically)**\n\n- Applies to Piper PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T aeroplanes with the listed serial numbers (PA-46-350P: 4636375–4636447; PA-46R-350T: 4692001–4692068).\n- Requires three actions (labelled as Requirement 1, 2 and 3 in the Directive):\n - **Requirement 1:** Insert the statement “Operate Only under Day Visual Flight Rules (VFR)” into the Limitations section of the aircraft flight manual (AFM) before further flight after 5 May 2009. The owner/operator may insert the statement themselves if they hold at least a private pilot licence.\n - **Requirement 2:** Inspect the 35‑amp and 250‑amp current limiters to verify they are installed in the correct locations, following the procedures in Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 2000 (dated 16 September 2008). This inspection must be done within 100 hours time in service after 5 May 2009.\n - **Requirement 3:** If the inspection finds any current limiter not in the proper location, reinstall it per SB 2000 before further flight after the inspection.\n- Once the install locations are verified or corrected, the temporary AFM limitation (Day VFR only) may be removed.\n- Later revisions of SB 2000 approved by the US FAA as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to FAA AD 2009‑07‑08 are acceptable for meeting these requirements.\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Aircraft owners and operators of the specific Piper PA‑46 serial numbers listed.\n- Maintenance personnel who perform the inspection/reinstallation according to Piper SB 2000.\n- Pilots of affected aircraft while the AFM limitation is in place (they must restrict operations to Day VFR until verification/correction).\n\n**Why it matters (official rationale and practical implications)**\n\n- The Directive’s stated purpose is to ensure the 35‑amp and 250‑amp current limiters are installed in their correct locations. Incorrect installation could affect electrical system protection or function; the AD imposes an operational restriction (Day VFR only) until the installation is confirmed correct.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade‑offs**\n\n- Who pays: aircraft owners/operators pay for the inspection (labour time) and for any corrective reinstallation; they also bear the opportunity cost of restricted operations while the AFM limitation is in place.\n- Compliance burden: inspection within 100 hours TIS and immediate correction if needed; AFM amendment can be self‑performed by an owner/operator with a private pilot licence (reduces administrative cost), but reinstallation may require maintenance labour and possibly parts.\n- Timing and disruption: the AFM amendment must be inserted before further flight after 5 May 2009; if a current limiter must be reinstalled, the aircraft cannot fly until corrected (Requirement 3). That creates a hard ground time risk if incorrect installations are found.\n- Regulatory discretion and harmonisation: the AD accepts later FAA‑approved revisions to SB 2000 as an AMOC, which allows some procedural flexibility but relies on FAA approval for alternative methods.\n\n**Effects on private choice and market actors**\n\n- Pilots/operators face a temporary restriction on where and when they can fly (Day VFR only) until they comply. This constrains usage choices and could shift some flights to other aircraft.\n- Maintenance providers may see increased demand for inspections and corrective work on the affected serial-numbered aircraft.\n- The measure does not alter ownership, pricing mechanisms, or broader market competition; it imposes a targeted safety compliance cost on owners/operators of the specified aircraft.\n\n**Implementation risks and unintended consequences**\n\n- If many affected aircraft require reinstallation, there could be concentrated demand for qualified maintenance, causing scheduling delays and extended downtime for operators.\n- Allowing owner/operators with only a private pilot licence to amend the AFM reduces administrative friction but places some reliance on the owner’s correct insertion of the limitation statement.\n\n(Requirements and compliance times are cited from Requirement 1, Requirement 2 and Requirement 3 of the Directive; the Directive also references Piper SB 2000 and FAA AD 2009‑07‑08.)"},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters","history":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pa-46-35-current-limiters/documents"}}