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SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Piper PA-34 Seneca III · Airworthiness Directives

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Overview

This document is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia, specifically addressing safety concerns related to the Piper PA-34 Seneca series aircraft. The directive focuses on the main landing gear side brace studs, which have been reported to develop cracks, potentially leading to gear collapse during landing. The AD outlines the required actions for affected aircraft models, including inspection and replacement procedures, to ensure continued airworthiness and safety. It is crucial for operators of the PA-34 series to comply with the directives to mitigate risks associated with landing gear failures. The document also provides compliance timelines and alternative actions for maintenance personnel.

  • Affected models: Piper PA-34-200 and PA-34-200T.
  • Inspect main gear side brace studs for cracks using specified methods.
  • Compliance required within 100 hours of service or 500-hour intervals thereafter.
  • Replace cracked studs with approved parts as per maintenance manual.
  • Amendment 1 allows reaming of bushings as an alternative to replacement.

Document

Source

Originally published by services.casa.gov.au. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.

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Document details

Type
Airworthiness Directives
Year
2002
Pages
4
File size
70 KB
Publisher
services.casa.gov.au
Documentation completeness
4/7

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In this document

Applicability

The AD applies to the Piper PA-34-200 and PA-34-200T models. Specifically, it targets all serial numbers of the PA-34-200 and serial numbers 34-7570001 through 34-7770372 for the PA-34-200T that are not equipped with specific part number bracket assemblies.

Requirement

Operators must remove both left and right main gear side brace studs and inspect them for cracks using fluorescent penetrant or magnetic particle inspection methods. If cracks are found, the studs must be replaced with an approved serviceable part.

Compliance

The compliance time for the required actions is within the next 100 hours of time in service after January 4, 1996, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours of time in service.

Background

The directive was issued following reports of main gear side brace stud cracks and incidents of main landing gear collapse. The actions specified are intended to prevent such failures and ensure safe landing operations.

Amendment Details

Amendment 1 allows for the reaming of existing bushings as an alternative to replacing certain bushings, providing flexibility in compliance with the directive.

Safety notes

  • Main gear side brace stud cracks can lead to gear collapse during landing.
  • Immediate inspection and compliance are critical for safety.

Full document text

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 1 of 4 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-34/46 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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-34/46 Amdt 1 Main Landing Gear Side Brace Stud 9/2002 Applicability: The following model and serial number aircraft that are not equipped with a part number 95643-06, 95643-07, 95643-08, or 95643-09 bracket assembly, which includes a part number 78717-02 main landing gear side brace stud: Model Serial Numbers PA34-200 all serial numbers PA34-200T 34-7570001 through 34-7770372 Requirement: Remove both the left and right main gear side brace studs from the aircraft in accordance with the instructions contained in the Landing Gear section of the maintenance manual, and inspect each main gear side brace stud for cracks using fluorescent penetrant or magnetic particle inspection methods. Figure 1 of this Directive depicts the area where the sidebrace stud is to be inspected. This figure is provided to depict the area of the sidebrace stud to be inspected. This is not intended to represent the configuration of all models affected. Note 1: A part number 95299-00 or 95299-02 stud installed in an applicable Model PA34-200 or PA34-200T aircraft may be identified by removing the stud and measuring the shank diameter of the stud. If the shank measures 5/8 inch in diameter, a part number 78717-02 main gear side brace stud is installed. For any main gear side brace stud found cracked, replace the cracked stud with an approved serviceable part in accordance with the instructions contained in the Landing Gear section of the applicable maintenance manual. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 2 of 4 Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/46 Amdt 1 (continued) For the affected Model PA34-200 and PA34-200T aircraft, the part number 95299-00 or 95299-02 main gear side brace studs are no longer manufactured. A new main gear side brace stud bracket assembly, part number(s) 95643-06, 95643-07, 95643-08, or 95643-09, as applicable, must be installed if cracks are found as a result of the required inspection. No repetitive inspection will be required for these affected aircraft models when this bracket assembly is installed; or For the affected Model PA-34-200 and PA-34-200T aircraft, ream the existing two- piece bushings to an inside diameter of 0.624 inch to 0.625 inch, chamfer the head side of the bushing to accommodate the radius in the shank of the main gear side brace stud, and install the 5/8 inch stud, P/N 78717-02. No repetitive inspections will be required by this Airworthiness Directive when this action is accomplished on both the left and right bracket assemblies. If the bushings cannot be reamed while installed in the bracket (i.e., the bushings are loose), then install a main gear side brace bracket assembly, P/N 95643-06, P/N 95643-07, P/N 95643-08, or P/N 95643-09, as applicable. No repetitive inspections will be required by this Airworthiness Directive when a P/N 78717-02 (or CASA approved equivalent part number) main gear side brace stud is installed in the existing bracket assembly on both the left and right sides; or when a bracket assembly, P/N 95643-06 (or CASA approved equivalent part number), P/N 95643-07 (or CASA approved equivalent part number), P/N 95643-08 (or CASA approved equivalent part number), or P/N 95643-09 (or CASA approved equivalent part number), as applicable, is installed on both the left and right sides. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 3 of 4 Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/46 Amdt 1 (continued) Figure 1 Note 2: FAA AD 97-01-01 R1 Amdt 39-10864 refers. Compliance: Within the next 100 hours time in service after 4 January 1996, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service. The original compliance times of this Airworthiness Directive are unchanged by this amendment. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 4 of 4 Piper PA-34 (Seneca) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-34/46 Amdt 1 (continued) This amendment becomes effective on 5 September 2002. Background: The FAA received reports of main gear side brace stud cracks, and seve n associated incidents where the main landing gear collapsed. The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent a main gear collapse caused by main gear side brace stud cracks, which could result in loss of control of the aircraft during landing operations. Amendment 1 allows reaming of the existing bushings as an alternative to replacing certain bushings. The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 4 January 1996. David Alan Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 July 2002 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 August 2002.