AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AD/PA-34/51 Amdt 1
Piper PA-34 Seneca · Airworthiness Directives
Overview
This document is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia concerning the Piper PA-34 Seneca series aeroplanes. The directive addresses safety concerns related to the combustion heater fuel pumps installed in these aircraft. It revokes the previous AD/PA-34/51 and introduces new requirements for inspection and maintenance of the fuel pumps to prevent potential failures that could lead to fire or explosion in the cockpit. The directive specifies two groups of aircraft models with corresponding serial numbers and outlines the necessary actions to be taken by operators to ensure compliance and safety. The document is crucial for maintaining airworthiness and ensuring the safety of flight operations involving the Piper PA-34 Seneca.
- Inspect heater fuel pumps (models 91E92-1 or 91E93-1) for leakage.
- Group 1 aeroplanes must complete inspections within 10 hours TIS after the original directive's effective date.
- Group 2 aeroplanes must complete inspections within 10 hours TIS after the new directive's effective date.
- Correct any abnormalities found during inspections or replace the fuel pump as necessary.
- Failure to comply with these directives could lead to fire or explosion in the cockpit.
Document
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Applicability
The directive applies to two groups of Piper PA-34 Seneca series aeroplanes. Group 1 includes PA-34-200T models with serial numbers from 34-7570002 to 34-8170092 and PA-34-220T models from 34-8133002 to 3449278. Group 2 includes additional PA-34-220T models with serial numbers from 3449279 to 3449309.
Requirements for Group 1 Aeroplanes
Operators of Group 1 aeroplanes must visually inspect the installed heater fuel pumps (models 91E92-1 or 91E93-1) for any leakage. If leakage is found, the pump sealing surface must be inspected for abnormalities, and any issues must be corrected. If abnormalities cannot be corrected, the pump must be replaced according to the specified service bulletins.
Requirements for Group 2 Aeroplanes
For Group 2 aeroplanes, the same inspection and maintenance procedures apply as for Group 1. Operators must ensure that any installed heater fuel pumps are inspected for leakage and that any abnormalities are addressed before further flight.
Compliance Timeline
Compliance with the directive is required within specific timeframes. For Group 1 aeroplanes, actions must be completed within 10 hours of time in service after the effective date of the original directive. For Group 2 aeroplanes, compliance is also required within 10 hours of time in service after the effective date of this directive.
Background
The directive was issued following investigations that revealed quality control issues with heater fuel pumps installed in certain PA-34-220T models. The original directive required a one-time inspection for fuel leakage, and this amendment expands the applicability to include additional serial numbers.
Safety notes
- Quality control problems with heater fuel pumps could result in failure, leading to fire or explosion in the cockpit.
Full document text
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 1 of 3 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-34/51 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section. Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/51 Amdt 1 Combustion Heater Fuel Pumps 10/2005 Applicability: Group 1: The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. aeroplanes retained from AD/PA34/51 original issue: Model Serial Nos. PA-34-200T 34-7570002 through 34-8170092. PA-34-220T 34-8133002 through 3449278. Group 2: The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. aeroplanes (not included in AD/PA34/51 original issue) added to the applicability of this Directive: Model Serial Nos. PA–34–220T 3449279 through 3449309. Requirement: 1. Group 1 aeroplanes: (a) Visually inspect any installed aircraft heater fuel pump (model 91E92-1 or model 91E93-1) for leakage in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127, dated 26 February 2003, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110A, dated 6 March, 2003. (b) If any leak is found, inspect the pump sealing surface for abnormalities (for example, nicks, gouges, or warping). Correct any abnormality found. If any abnormality cannot be corrected, replace the header fuel pump in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110A. (c) Do not install any heater fuel pump (model 91E92–1 or model 91E93-1) unless you have visually inspected the pump for leakage and corrected any abnormalities specified in Requirement 1(b) of this Directive in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110A. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/51 Amdt 1 (continued) Page 2 of 3 2. Group 2 aeroplanes: (a) Visually inspect any installed aircraft heater fuel pump (model 91E92-1 or model 91E93-1) for leakage in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127B, dated 18 April 2005, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110B, dated 20 December 2004. (b) If any leak is found, inspect the pump sealing surface for abnormalities (for example, nicks, gouges, or warping). Correct any abnormality found. If any abnormality cannot be corrected, replace the heater fuel pump in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127B, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110B. (c) Do not install any heater fuel pump (model 91E92-1 or model 91E93-1) unless you have visually inspected the pump for leakage and corrected any abnormalities specified in Requirement 2(b) of this Directive in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1127B, and Kelly Aerospace Power Systems Service Information Letter Bulletin No. A-110B. Note: FAA AD 2005-15-10 Amdt 39-14199 refers. Compliance: 1. Group 1 aeroplanes: (a) Remains unchanged as Within the next 10 hours time in service (TIS) after 27 June 2003 (the effective date of the original issue of this Directive). (b) Prior to further flight. (c) From the effective date of this Directive. 2. Group 2 aeroplanes: (a) Unless already accomplished, within the next 10 hours TIS, after the effective date of this Directive. (b) Before further flight after the inspection required in Requirement 2(a) of this Directive. (c) From the effective date of this Directive. This Amendment becomes effective on 29 September 2005. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/51 Amdt 1 (continued) Page 3 of 3 Background: The original issue of this Directive required a one- time inspection of the combustion heater fuel pumps for fuel leakage. If leakage was found, repair or replacement of the fuel pump was undertaken. This Directive retains all those actions and includes additional serial numbers for the Models PA-34-220T aeroplanes in the applicability section. This Directive results from further investigation that concluded that additional fuel pumps that did not meet the quality control (inspection or design) requirements of the Directive had been installed in Models PA-34-220T and aeroplanes. Quality control problems with the heater fuel pump could result in failure of the heater fuel pump. Such failure could lead to fire or explosion in the cockpit. James Coyne Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 August 2005