Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2012L00161:body:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2012L00161
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 0–9225

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-31/37 Amdt 10 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-31 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-31/37 Amdt 11  Airframe Retirement Lives  3/2012

Applicability:                          All Models.
Requirement:                                 1. a. Retire the wing main spar lower cap and the pressure cabin (where applicable) before exceeding the times in service shown in the Retirement Schedule below; or

                                             b. Adopt a CASA approved inspection program to allow operation beyond the retirement life specified in the Retirement Schedule below.  Refer to Note 2 and Note 5 for guidance on developing an inspection program.

                                             2. a. Retire the remainder of the airframe after the expiration of two wing main spar lower cap lifetimes, Note 2 refers; or

                                             b. Adopt a CASA approved inspection program to allow operation beyond the retirement limit of requirement 2.a.  Refer to Note 2 and Note 5 for guidance on developing an inspection program.

                                             RETIREMENT SCHEDULE
     Model                              Wing Main Spar                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pressure Cabin (pressurised flights)
                                        Lower Cap (hours)
*PA-31                                       11000                                                                                                                                                                                                                     N/A
*PA-31-300                                   15500                                                                                                                                                                                                                     N/A
*PA-31-325                                   11000                                                                                                                                                                                                                     N/A
*PA-31-350                                   13000                                                                                                                                                                                                                     N/A
PA-31P                                       14000                                                                                                                                                                                                                     10000
PA-31P-350                                   28000                                                                                                                                                                                                                     10000
PA-31P-350 with 3368kg MTOW (STC 72-6)       23900                                                                                                                                                                                                                     10000

                                 PA-31T                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 12000       10000
PA-31T1                               14500                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10000
PA-31T1 with optional tip tanks       12000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10000
PA-31T2                               11400                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10000
PA-31T3                               17400                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             N/A
PA-31T3 with optional tip tanks       13800                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             N/A
                                 *  Aircraft which have been modified in accordance with Gippsland Aeronautics Pty Ltd. Engineering Release PA31-0001 (Model PA-31, -300, -325) or PA31-0002 (Model PA31-350), and which are subject to the related ongoing inspection program of ER PA31-0003, are exempt from the wing fatigue life limitation.  The airframe life limitation of Requirement para 2 still applies.

                                 Note 1:  The wing main spar lower cap comprises the complete spar cap assembly including the "T" section element, the nesting angles, and the reinforcing strips.  It is recommended, but not essential, that the centre section splice plate be retired with the spar cap.

                                 Note 2:  The available fatigue data covers wing main spars and pressure cabins only.  The durability of other parts of the airframe has not been evaluated, and is therefore unknown.

                                 Based on experience, the Authority is prepared to credit unevaluated structure