AD/PA-42/3 - Tail Fin/Fuselage, Rivet Installation - Replacement - CANCELLED

What this does: This document cancels a previous aviation safety rule (called an Airworthiness Directive or AD) that applied to specific aircraft.

Who it affects: Owners and operators of Piper PA-42 (Cheyenne III) series aeroplanes.

The old requirement: The previous rule required replacement of rivets at the junction between the tail fin and the fuselage body, following Piper Service Bulletin No. 765, within 100 hours of flying time after September 1983.

What changes now: As of 9 April 2009, this maintenance obligation is completely removed. Owners no longer need to perform this specific rivet replacement to comply with Australian law.

Why it matters: It eliminates an outdated mandatory maintenance task, reducing compliance costs and administrative burden for operators while CASA (the aviation safety regulator) has determined the requirement is no longer necessary for safety.