Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18019 · Engine exhaust
Piper Aircraft, Inc.
This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-31P airplanes, serial numbers 31P-1 through 31P-80 and 31P-7300110 through 31P-7730012, that are certificated in any category.
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 76-06-09 for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-31P airplanes. AD 76-06-09 required repetitive inspection of certain exhaust system parts with replacement of parts mating with the turbocharger, as necessary, and allowed installation of a certain tailpipe v-band coupling as terminating action. This new AD requires the use of new service information and expands the scope of the inspections of the turbocharger exhaust system. This AD was prompted by reports of exhaust system failures, new service information, and the tailpipe v-band coupling used for terminating action is obsolete. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Within the next 60 hours time-in-service (TIS) after December 18, 2014(the effective date of this AD) or within the next 6 months after December 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 60 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first, inspect the parts as specified in table 1 of paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, if installed.
| Product/part nomenclature | Make | Model/part No. | With a light and mirror or other method capable of achieving an equivalent visual resolution, inspect for the following conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane | Piper | PA-31P | |
| Engine | Lycoming | TIGO-541-E series | |
| Pipe, exhaust, right-rear | Lycoming | 78012 | Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains. |
| Pipe, exhaust, left-rear | Lycoming | 78008 | Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains. |
| Pipe, rear exhaust adapter | Lycoming | LW-13027 | Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains. |
| Tail pipe assembly, upper | Piper | 46323-05 | Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains. |
| Tail pipe assembly, lower | Piper | 48788-05 | Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains. |
| V-band coupling | Lycoming | LW-12093-5 | Cracks and exhaust leak stains. |
| V-band coupling | Piper | 555-366 or 557-369 | Cracks and exhaust leak stains. |
| Isolator (CA-3383-1) | Piper | 467-442 | Cracks, looseness, and distortion. |
| Bracket—isolator, upper | Piper | 47014-02 | Cracks, looseness, and distortion. |
| Bracket—isolator, lower | Piper | 47013-02 | Cracks, looseness, and distortion. |
(2) If any damage is found in any inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, do the corrective actions, as applicable, in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (g)(2)(iv).
(i) Replace Piper v-band couplings exhibiting cracks and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012. Replace Lycoming v-band couplings exhibiting cracks and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1238B, Revision B, dated January 6, 2010.
Note to paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (h)(2)(iii): During replacement of v-band couplings, we recommend not opening the v-band coupling more than the MINIMUM diameter necessary to clear coupled flanges. It is recommended to replace any locknuts and/or mating couplings with airworthy parts when locknuts do not exhibit a prevailing torque when installed.
(ii) Replace Lycoming exhaust system parts exhibiting bulges, cracks, and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1320, dated March 7, 1975; or Textron Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1391, dated October 5, 1979, as applicable.
(iii) Replace Piper tail pipe assembly parts exhibiting bulges, cracks, and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012.
(iv) Replace Piper isolators and brackets exhibiting cracks, looseness and/or distortion following Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 462A, dated November 3, 1975; and Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012.
(1) Within the next 100 hours TIS after December 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 12 months after December 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, review the airplane maintenance records to positively identify whether the modifications described in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iii) of this AD have been done.
(i) Exhaust pipe slip joint modification following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; and Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 393C, dated November 26, 1976.
(ii) Installation of bracket and clamp assembly following Piper Kit No. 760-974 as specified in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; or Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin 462A, dated November 3, 1975.
(iii) Replacement of Piper v-band coupling, part number 556-053, with Piper v-band coupling, part number 557-369, following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012.
(2) If you cannot positively identify that the modifications described in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iii) of this AD have been done, before further flight, you must do the modifications described in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) through (h)(2)(iii), as applicable.
(i) Exhaust pipe slip joint modification following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012, and Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 393C, dated November 26, 1976.
(ii) Installation of bracket and clamp assembly following Piper Kit No. 760-974 as specified in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; or Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin 462A, dated November 3, 1975.
(iii) Replacement of Piper v-band coupling, part number 556-053, with Piper v-band coupling, part number 557-369, following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012.
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.
Aircraft
