AD/PA-23/38 - Rear Fuselage - Inspection - CANCELLED

This instrument cancels a previous safety inspection rule for specific light aircraft.

Who it affects: Owners and operators of Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec series aeroplanes.

What it does:

• Removes a mandatory inspection that previously required checking the rear fuselage of these aircraft (originally mandated by Airworthiness Directive AD/PA-23/38)
• The original rule (dating from 1969) required owners to complete a one-time inspection within 100 hours of flying time, following guidelines in Piper Service Bulletin No. 296
• The cancellation takes effect on 28 August 2008

Why it matters: Aircraft owners no longer need to perform this specific structural check. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has determined the inspection is no longer necessary, likely because the original safety concern has been addressed by the passage of time or changes in the aircraft fleet.