{"id":"F2012L01141","name":"AD/TSA-600/36 Amdt 4 - Engine Exhaust Systems and installation of Fire Detection System for Turbocharged Aircraft","slug":"ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":163135,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2012L01141-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-04","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 S","sectionType":"division","heading":"Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/TSA-600/36Amdt 4 | Engine Exhaust Systems and installation of Fire Detection System for Turbocharged Aircraft | 11/2012 |\n| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Piper Models PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P, and PA-60-700P (all serial numbers (S/N)) airplanes, and Ted Smith Aerostar (Butler Aircraft Company) Models 600, 601, 601A, 601B, and 601P (all S/N) airplanes, certificated in any category, except those airplanes incorporating Machen Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA980NM.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | All turbocharged models:Modify the airplane by installing Piper Engine Fire Detection System Kit, Piper Part Number 764-158, in accordance with the instructions in Part II of the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation (SB) No. 920A, dated September 12, 1991, and modify the Airplane Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook by inserting the appropriate supplement provided with the above kit.2. All models:Remove and inspect the engine exhaust system in accordance with Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin Number 920A Part 1 and in accordance with Piper Aircraft 600/601/601P/602P/700P Maintenance Manual Chapter5-20-01 page 5-10. Install the engine exhaust system in accordance with Piper Aircraft 600/601/601P/602P/700P Maintenance Manual Chapter 78-11-05 page 78-05. |\n| Compliance:    | Unless previously accomplished; within 6 months of the effective date of this Directive.Unless previously accomplished; within 10 hours aircraft time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 (+5 tolerance)* hours aircraft time in service or 6 months, whichever occurs first.Note 1: Accomplishment of Part III of SB 920A for Turbocharged models (installation of Bolted Flange Inconel Tailpipe kit in accordance with STCSA 4976NM) will relieve the repetitive 50 hour dismantling inspection requirement of Part 1 of SB 920A and the requirement 2 of this AD. The 50 hour repetitive inspection will still be required for the non-turbocharged models.This Amendment becomes effective on 4 June 2012.                                                                 |\n| Background:    | Note 2: An extension to the interval for Requirement 2 of this AD (use of 5 hour tolerance) must not extend the subsequent occurrence of Requirement 2. For example, if as a result of an extension to Requirement 2 (having an interval of 50 hours) the inspection is carried out at 55 hours, the Requirement 2 inspection must next be carried out no later than 45 hours after the previous inspection, to preserve the 50 hour interval.This Directive was originally issued to address reports of Aerostar exhaust systems failing in service. Exhaust system defects can result in an engine fire.This Amendment is issued to align the AD with the FAA AD 90-01-02 in mandating the installation of the Fire Detection System in accordance with the SB No. 920A.                          |\n|                | Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 20 March 2003.Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 9 March 1990.Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 24 January 1990.The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 May 1986.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nMike Higgins  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n31 May 2012","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/TSA-600/36Amdt 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/TSA-600/36Amdt 4","content":"## AD/TSA-600/36  \nAmdt 4","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Engine Exhaust Systems and installation ","sectionType":"part","heading":"Engine Exhaust Systems and installation of Fire Detection System for Turbocharged Aircraft","content":"## Engine Exhaust Systems and installation of Fire Detection System for Turbocharged Aircraft","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"11/2012","sectionType":"part","heading":"11/2012","content":"## 11/2012","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive (1986) addressed exhaust system failures only. Amendment 4 (2012) expanded scope to mandate fire detection system installation for turbocharged models, aligning with FAA AD 90-01-02. This represents a significant expansion from pure exhaust inspection to active fire safety systems installation."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple applicability exceptions (specific Machen STC exemption)","Different requirements for turbocharged vs non-turbocharged variants","Cross-references to external documents: Piper Service Bulletin 920A (Part II and Part III), Piper Maintenance Manual Chapter 5-20-01 and 78-11-05","Conditional compliance relief: Part III of SB 920A installation removes repetitive inspection requirement for turbocharged models only","Complex recurring interval calculation with tolerance rules and explicit prohibition on interval extension carryover (Note 2)","Multiple amendment history references creating version confusion","Dual measurement standards for compliance (flight hours vs calendar time with 'whichever occurs first' logic)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of certain Piper and Ted Smith Aerostar twin‑engine aircraft to add an engine‑compartment fire detection system to turbocharged models and to remove, inspect, and correctly reinstall exhaust systems on all affected aircraft, with recurring inspections. It targets specific PA‑60/600–700 and Aerostar 600–601 series airplanes and excludes aircraft modified under the stated STC. Deadlines: fire detector within 6 months; first exhaust inspection within 10 flight hours; repeat every 50 flight hours or 6 months."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Directive was originally issued to address exhaust system failures (risk of engine fire). Amendment 4 aligns the AD with FAA AD 90-01-02 and explicitly mandates installation of a fire detection system on turbocharged models while retaining and specifying repetitive exhaust inspection requirements for all models; relief from inspections is available only if the specified SB Part III/STC modification is installed (Background; Requirement; Compliance, Note 1)."},"complexity_factors":["Wide applicability across multiple Aerostar/Piper 600/700 models (Applicability) increases administrative scope.","Different obligations for turbocharged models (mandatory installation of Piper Engine Fire Detection Kit, P/N 764-158 and AFM/POH supplement) versus all models (exhaust removal/inspection/reinstallation) (Requirement).","Multiple external technical references required for compliance: Aerostar SB 920A (Parts I–III), Piper Maintenance Manual chapters 5-20-01 and 78-11-05 (Requirement).","Staggered and recurring compliance timing: initial deadlines (6 months; within 10 hours) and repetitive intervals of 50 hours (+5 tolerance) or 6 months, creating scheduling and record‑keeping complexity (Compliance).","Conditional relief provision: accomplishing Part III of SB 920A or installing the bolted flange Inconel tailpipe kit in accordance with STC SA4976NM removes the 50‑hour repetitive dismantling inspection for turbocharged models (Compliance, Note 1).","A precise tolerance arithmetic rule to preserve the nominal interval if extensions are used (Background, Note 2) adds procedural complexity for scheduling inspections.","Compliance imposes direct costs (kit, parts, maintenance labour), operational downtime, and potential need for STC/parts sourcing and specialised maintenance skills.","Amendment history and interaction with FAA AD 90-01-02 require operators to track evolving obligations and past compliance status (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of Aerostar/Piper 600/700 series aeroplanes to install a Piper engine fire‑detection kit on turbocharged models and to remove, inspect and reinstall the engine exhaust system on all affected models. It sets deadlines and recurring inspection intervals (typically 50 hours or 6 months) and allows relief from the repetitive inspection if a specified tailpipe STC or Part III of SB 920A is fitted.\n\nIt affects aircraft owners/operators who pay for parts, labour and downtime; it matters because the AD responds to exhaust failures that can lead to engine fires."},"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-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg","history":"/api/acts/ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-tsa-600-36-amdt-4-engine-exhaust-systems-and-installation-of-fire-detection-system-for-turbocharg/documents"}}