Commonwealth legislation

AD/PA-32/61 - Stabilator Skin - Inspection

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

Owners/operators of Piper PA-32 series Cherokees (PA-32-260/300, PA-32R/RT-300, PA-32RT-300T) must visually inspect the stabilator—especially underside skin at front-spar panel joints—for cracks and report findings to the Airworthiness Office (a phone call suffices if none). Inspections are required within 25 flight hours after 8 June 1979. The action follows a fatal in-flight breakup from stabilator fatigue cracking.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/PA-32/61 - Stabilator Skin - Inspection.

AD/PA-32/61 - Stabilator Skin - Inspection

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-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-32/61 Stabilator Skin - Inspection 6/79

Applicability: All models PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300 and PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT- 300T.

Requirement: 1. Visually inspect the upper and lower surfaces of the stabilator for skin cracking at the spanwise lap joint at the front spar location. The accompanying sketch shows the area to be inspected. Particular attention should be given to the lower surface.

It is requested that the results of the inspection, even if no damage is discovered, be reported to an Airworthiness Office of the Department so that a thorough assessment of any general problem can be made. It is further requested that the presence or otherwise of a joggle or kink in th skin, as identified in the sketch also be reported to the Department. A verbal report will suffice if no cracking is present.

Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 8 June 1979.

Background: Investigations into a recent accident involving an inflight structural break-up have disclosed the presence of an extensive fatigue crack in the lower surface of one side of the stabilator. As the investigation is not yet completed, this inspection is of a precautionary nature intended to assess the extent of any problem.

View image in the official source

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

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Source text

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

1 AD/PA-32/61 - Stabilator Skin - Inspection

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

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-32/61 Stabilator Skin - Inspection 6/79

Applicability: All models PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300 and PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT- 300T.

It is requested that the results of the inspection, even if no damage is discovered, be reported to an Airworthiness Office of the Department so that a thorough assessment of any general problem can be made. It is further requested that the presence or otherwise of a joggle or kink in th skin, as identified in the sketch also be reported to the Department. A verbal report will suffice if no cracking is present.

Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 8 June 1979.

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

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES