Commonwealth legislation

AD/PA-31/85 - Cigar Lighters - Disconnection

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

4/10 complexity

This airworthiness directive requires owners/operators of specified Piper PA‑31 series aeroplanes to disconnect the electrical feed to cockpit cigar lighters and to insulate and secure the disconnected wire ends. It applies to aircraft in specific serial‑number ranges fitted with three 12‑volt cigar lighters powered through voltage‑dropping resistors. The action is intended to remove a source of resistor burning and cockpit smoke; compliance (within 100 hours) creates a maintenance cost, loss of lighter function and a short inspection/repair task for operators.

JSON API

Deep dive

Want the full deep dive?

Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/PA-31/85 - Cigar Lighters - Disconnection.

AD/PA-31/85 - Cigar Lighters - Disconnection

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

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

View image in the official source
Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-31/85 Cigar Lighters - Disconnection 11/79

Applicability: All models PA-31 and PA-31-325 with S/Nos. 31-7712074 to 31-7912098 and PA- 31-350 with S/Nos. 31-7752096 to 31-7952197 equipped with three 12 Volt cigar lighters powered through a triplet of voltage dropping resistors.

Requirement: 1. For models PA-31 and PA-31-325 S/Nos 31-7712074 to 31-7912000, and PA-31- 350 S/Nos. 31-7752096 to 31-7952000; disconnect wire CIG-1 from the 7 amp circuit breaker located at the voltage dropping resistor assembly under the instrument panel or disconnect wire CIG-1A from the 15 Amp “Heater and Cigar Lighter” circuit breaker located on the pilot’s circuit breaker panel.

For models PA-31 and PA-31-325 S/Nos. 31-7912001 to 31-7912098 and PA-31-

350 S/Nos. 31-7952001 to 31-7952197 except 31-7952191, 31-7952193, 31-

7952195; disconnect wire CIG-1 from the 7 Amp “Lighter” circuit breaker located on the pilot’s circuit breaker panel.

After disconnection, protect the wire by insulating its disconnected end and fold the wire end back against itself or the bundle in which it is routed and secure it.

Note: FAA AD 79-20-07 Amdt. 39-3573 refers.

Compliance: Within the next 100 hours time in service after 30 November 1979.

Background: During flight voltage dropping resistors have been burning and causing smoke in the cockpit.

Source text

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

1 AD/PA-31/85 - Cigar Lighters - Disconnection