Commonwealth legislation

AD/PA-34/15 - Outer Wing Spars - 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This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.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

3/10 complexity

This safety directive targets specific Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft (serial numbers 34-7450001 to 34-7450205) to prevent catastrophic wing failure. The problem: Some aircraft were built with improperly manufactured holes in the outer wing spars (the structural beams inside the wings), which could develop cracks and compromise wing integrity. What must happen: A mechanic must remove an inspection panel on each wing and check for specific square manufacturing marks and cracks around these holes. The outcomes:

If the mark appears only on the back side of the spar and no cracks exist → the aircraft passes inspection.
If the mark appears on the front side or any cracks are found → the spar must be replaced with an approved part or repaired using a method approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Operators had to complete this inspection within 10 hours of flight time after 17 September 1974.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/PA-34/15 - Outer Wing Spars - Inspection.

AD/PA-34/15 - Outer Wing Spars - Inspection

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

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes

AD/PA-34/15 Outer Wing Spars - Inspection 9/74

Applicability: All models PA34-200 with S/Nos. 34-7450001 to 34-7450205.

Requirement: 1. To detect improperly formed lightening holes in the outer wing spars, accomplish the following:

(a) Remove the inspection plate located adjacent to the aileron bellcrank and aft of the outboard fuel tank on the lower surface of the wing.

(b) Inspect both sides of LH and RH spar around the first lightening hole outboard of the fish mouth of the main spar splice for evidence of a die stamping mark approximately six by six inches square surrounding the lightening hole area.

(c) Inspect the lightening hole flange radius for cracks.

2. If square die stamping mark is evident on the aft side of spar only and there are no cracks in the lightening hole flange radii, no further action is required.

3. If square die stamping mark is evident on forward side of spar and/or if there are cracks in the lightening hole flange, replace the outboard spar with a serviceable spar of the same P/N or repair in accordance with a scheme approved by the Secretary.

Compliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 17 September 1974.

Source text

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

1 AD/PA-34/15 - Outer Wing Spars - Inspection