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AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AD/PA-38/27 Amdt 2

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk · Maintenance Manual

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Overview

This document is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia, specifically for the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk series aircraft. The directive addresses safety concerns related to wing fatigue and outlines mandatory actions that must be taken to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft. It includes requirements for wing retirement or modification through the installation of a spar strap, as well as inspection protocols to monitor the condition of the wing structure. The AD is crucial for maintaining safety standards and compliance for all PA-38-112 aircraft.

  • All PA-38-112 aircraft are subject to this Airworthiness Directive.
  • Operators must retire the wing or install a spar strap per FAA STC SA01130SE.
  • Compliance is required within 200 hours TIS after February 26, 1998, or at 11,000 hours TIS.
  • New retirement life can be calculated using the formula: New retirement life = 21,950 hrs - (0.3 x hrs accumulated prior to modification).
  • Initial inspection after spar strap installation is required at 100 flight hours, then every 100 flight hours.

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
Maintenance Manual
Year
2004
Pages
2
File size
19 KB
Publisher
services.casa.gov.au
Documentation completeness
4/7

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In this document

Applicability

This Airworthiness Directive applies to all Piper PA-38-112 aircraft, mandating specific actions to address wing fatigue issues.

Requirements

Operators must either retire the wing and associated structure or install a spar strap as per FAA STC SA01130SE. If the spar strap is installed, a visual inspection of the spar caps and strap for cracking is required.

Compliance

The compliance timeline for these actions is within 200 hours of time in service after February 26, 1998, or at 11,000 hours TIS, whichever occurs last. A formula is provided to calculate new retirement life for aircraft with the spar strap installed.

Inspection Protocols

After installation of the wing spar strap, an initial inspection is required at 100 flight hours, followed by inspections every 100 flight hours thereafter.

Background

The AD mandates replacement requirements and schedules as listed in the Maintenance Manual. It includes a note for assistance with the STC modification.

Safety notes

  • Failure to comply with this AD may result in unsafe conditions affecting the aircraft's airworthiness.

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 2 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PA-38/27 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (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-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-38/27 Amdt 2 Wing Fatigue 5/2004 Applicability: All PA-38-112 aircraft. Requirement: 1. Retire the wing and associated structure OR install a spar strap per FAA STC SA01130SE (Sterling Aviation Technologies Inc.), issued 10 October 2002. 2. If the spar strap has been installed, visually inspect the spar caps and strap for cracking. Refer to Piper PA-38-112 Maintenance Manual, Periodic Inspection, Section E, Wing Group, items 9 and 10. The visual inspection can be done at the same time as these items. Compliance: 1. Within 200 hrs time in service (TIS) after 26 February 1998 or at 11000 hrs TIS, whichever occurs last. If a wing strap is installed per FAA STC SA01130SE (Sterling Aviation Technologies Inc - See Note 2), then the new retirement life is to be calculated using the following formula: New retirement life = 21,950 hrs - ( 0.3 x hrs accumulated prior to modification ) Note 1: Example 1, an aircraft with 9,000 hours already accumulated without the modification: New retirement life = 21,950 - (0.3 x 9,000) = 19,250 hours. Example 2, an aircraft with 11,000 hours already accumulated without the modification: New retirement life = 21,950 - (0.3 x 11,000) = 18,650 hours. Note 2: For assistance with incorporating this STC, write to the STC owner, Mr Paul M. Sterling, 13113 SE 228th Place, Kent, WA, USA, 98031. 2. Initially, at 100 flight hours after installation of the wing spar strap, then every 100 flight hours thereafter. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk) Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-38/27 Amdt 2 (continued) Page 2 of 2 This Amendment becomes effective on 13 May 2004. Background: This AD mandates the replacement requirements and schedule listed in the Maintenance Manual and the Country of Origin FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet. This amendment includes a note with contact details for the STC owner, so that owners and operators may obtain assistance in incorporating the modification. There is no change to the requirements or compliance. Amendment 1 provided an option for the incorporation of an FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), which provides for a wing spar reinforcement strap to be installed to extend wing life. A formula is also provided so that a new retirement life can be calculated for aircraft that incorporate the modification listed in the STC. An ongoing inspection requirement, which is specified in the STC, is also added for aircraft that have the spar strap installed. The original issue of this AD became effective on 26 February 1998. David Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.