COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Piper PA-31 Series Aeroplanes AD/PA-31/106 Amdt 2 Fuselage Station 332.0 Bulkhead 9/96 Applicability: Models Serial Numbers PA-31T 31T-7400002 through 31T-8120104 PA-31T1 31T-7804001 through 31T-8104101, 31T-8304003, and 31T- 1104004 through 31T-1104007 PA-31T2 31T-8166001 through 31T-8166032, 31T-8166034 through 31T- 8166065, 31T-8166067 through 31T-8166071, and 31T-8166073 through 31T-8166075 PA-31T3 31T-8275001, 31T-8275003 through 31T-8275012, 31T-8275014 through 31T-8275017, 31T-8275025, and 31T-8375001 through 31T-8275005 Requirement: 1. Inspect in accordance with the Instructions section of Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 773A. 2. a. Reinforce the FS 332 bulkhead by incorporating Piper Kit 764-983 in accordance with the kit instructions, Revised 18 June 1990; or b. Replace the bulkhead assembly with a reinforced bulkhead assembly, P/N 45583-16 or P/N 45583-17, in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual. Note: FAA AD 96-10-13 Amdt 39-9620 refers. Compliance: 1. At intervals not to exceed 200 hours time in service, until Requirement 2.a. or 2.b. is accomplished. 2. Unless already accomplished, within 600 hours time in service after 15 August 1996. The repetitive compliance of the previous issue of this Directive remains unchanged. This Amendment is effective from 15 August 1996. Background: Reports were received of cracks in the FS 332 bulkhead, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in structural failure. Amendment 1 decreased the inspection threshold and introduced a repair kit. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new Country of Origin AD which requires incorporating a stabiliser forward spar attachment bulkhead reinforcement kit or installing a reinforced bulkhead assembly as terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirement. The Federal Aviation Administration's policy on ageing commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate or, in certain circumstances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available. The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 16 January 1984. Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 4 June 1984.