Commonwealth legislation

AD/PA-28/81 - Fuel Filter Drain Valve - Replacement

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

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Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

This safety order requires owners/operators of Piper PA-28 aircraft (Cherokee/Archer/Warrior) to replace the manual-locking fuel filter drain valve (Piper P/N 492022) with a spring‑loaded, self‑closing valve (e.g., SAF AIR P/N CAV 110). The change prevents inadvertent open drains that caused fuel loss and eight engine‑out forced landings. All PA‑28s must comply—except those already with cabin‑operated drain valves—within 100 flight hours after 31 May 1981.

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AD/PA-28/81 - Fuel Filter Drain Valve - Replacement

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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Piper PA-28 Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-28/81 Fuel Filter Drain Valve - Replacement 5/81

Applicability: All models except those with cabin operated fuel filter drain valves.

Requirement: Replace the existing fuel filter drain valve, Piper P/N 492022, with a spring loaded drain valve that has no provision for locking in the “OPEN” position.

Note: A drain valve suitable for this purpose is SAF AIR P/N CAV 110.

Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1981.

Background: Eight forced landings have resulted from the fuel filter drain valve being left in the LOCKED-OPEN position after pre-flight water drain checks. Although sufficient engine power may be available for the take-off run, fuel leakage from the open drain valve is such that climb power often cannot be attained.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 AD/PA-28/81 - Fuel Filter Drain Valve - Replacement