Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-12035 · The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA-31 Series Airplanes
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA-31 Series Airplanes
The following airplane models and serial numbers that are:
(1) Certificated in any category; and
(2) Equipped with Piper part number 46653-00 or 47529-32 main landing gear door hinge assemblies made of aluminum (or FAA-approved equivalent part numbers).
| Models | Serial Nos. |
|---|---|
| PA-31 | 31-2 through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31-300 | 31-2 through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31-350 | 31-5001 through 31-5004 and 31-7305005 through 31-8553002. |
| PA-31-325 | 31-7400990, 31-7512001 through 31-8312019. |
| PA-31P | 31P-1 through 31P-109 and 31P-7300110 through 31P-7730012. |
| PA-31T | 31T-7400002 through 31T-8120104. |
| PA-31T1 | 31T-7804001 through 31T-8104073; 31T-8104101; 31T-8304001 through 31T-8304003; and 31T-1104004 through 31T-1104017. |
| PA-31T2 | 31T-8166001 through 31T-8166076, and 31T-1166001 through 31T-1166008. |
| PA-31T3 | 31T-8275001 through 31T-8475001, and 31T-5575001. |
| PA-31P-350 | 31P-8414001 through 31P-8414050. |
Note 1: Aircraft referred to as Model PA-31-310 are actually Model PA-31 airplanes. Actions specified for PA-31 airplanes must also be performed. See also AD 80-26-05, Piper Service Bulletin No. 682, dated July 24, 1980, and type certificate data sheet A20SO.
This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 80-26- 05, which currently requires you to repetitively inspect the main landing gear (MLG) inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks on certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA-31 series airplanes. AD 80-26-05 also requires you to replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle with parts of improved design. This AD results from the Federal Aviation Administration's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft and the determination that an improved design MLG inboard door hinge and attachment assembly, when incorporated, will eliminate the need for the currently required repetitive short-interval inspections; however, we have received reports of cracks in the improved design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies on the affected airplanes. This AD retains the current repetitive inspections contained in AD 80-26-05, and requires inspections on the improved design parts. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracked MLG inboard door hinge assemblies. These cracked door hinge assemblies could result in the MLG becoming jammed, with consequent loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.
To address this problem, you must accomplish the following:
| Action | Compliance time | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| (1) For airplanes with any MLG inboard door hinge assembly that is Piper part number 47529-32 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number), accomplish the following: (i) Inspect all hinges and hinge attachment angles in the MLG inboard door hinge assembly; and | Inspect upon accumulating 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on the MLG inboard door hinge assembly or within the next 100 hours TIS after January 19, 2001 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later; and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours TIS. Accomplish the replacement, if necessary, prior to further flight after the inspection | Accomplish in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 682, dated July 24, 1980 |
| (ii) Replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge assembly with a Piper part number 47529-32 assembly (or FAA-approved equivalent part number) | ||
| (2) For airplanes with any aluminum MLG inboard door hinge assembly that is not Piper part number 47529-32 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number) or any assembly that is not made of steel, accomplish the following: (i) Inspect all hinges and hinge attachment angles in the MLG inboard door hinge assembly; and | Inspect at the next inspection required by AD 80-26-05 or within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after January 19, 2001 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS. Accomplish the replacement, if necessary, prior to further flight after the inspection where the cracked assembly was found | Accomplish in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 682, dated July 24, 1980. |
| (ii) Replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge assembly with a Piper part number 47529-32 assembly (or FAA-approved equivalent part number) |
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
