Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18337 · Placards and markings
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes
This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplanes, certificated in any category:
| Model | Serial No. |
|---|---|
| PA-23-250 (Six Place) Aztec “B” | 27-2322 through 27-2504, FUEL INJECTED ONLY |
| PA-23-250 (Six Place) and PA-E23-250 (Six Place) Aztec “C,” “D” and “E” | 27-2505 through 27-4866, 27-7304917 through 27-7405476 |
| PA-24-250 Comanche | 24-2563, 24-2844 through 24-3641, 24-3643 through 24-3687, FUEL INJECTED ONLY |
| PA-24-260 Comanche | 24-3642, 24-4000 through 24-4299, 24-4300 through 24-4782, 24-4784 through 24-4803, FUEL INJECTED ONLY |
| PA-24-260 Comanche “C” | 24-4783, 24-4804 through 24-5047 |
| PA-24-400 Comanche | 26-1 through 26-148 |
| PA-30 Twin Comanche | 30-1 through 30-2000 |
| PA-31 and PA-31-300 Navajo | 31-2 to 31-861, 31-7300901 through 31-7300923, 31-7300925, 31-7300927, 31-7300929, 31-7300931 |
| PA-31P Navajo | 31P-1 through 31P-80, 31P-7300110 through 31P-7300115 |
| PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R | 39-1 through 39-155 |
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-23-250, PA-24-250, PA-24-260, PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31P, PA-39, and PA-E23-250 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an accident caused by fuel starvation where the shape of the wing fuel tanks and fuel below a certain level in that tank may have allowed the fuel to move away from the tank outlet during certain maneuvers. This AD requires installing a fuel system management placard on the airplane instrument panel and adding text to the Limitations Section of the pilot's operating handbook (POH)/airplane flight manual (AFM). We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Unless already done, within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after January 12, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), do the actions in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, as applicable, including all subparagraphs.
(1) Inspect the fuel warning placard, if existing, following the Instructions section, of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014. If the placard is present and compliant with the Instructions section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014, then no further action regarding the placard is required.
(2) If the fuel warning placard is not present or not compliant with the Instructions section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014, then order the applicable placard from Piper Aircraft, Inc. at the address identified in paragraph (l)(3) of this AD. Alternatively, you may fabricate the applicable fuel warning placard following the Instructions section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014. Install the fabricated fuel warning placard or the fuel warning placard obtained from Piper Aircraft, Inc. following the Instructions section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014.
(1) Inspect the Limitations Section of the applicable POH/AFM following the Instructions section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014.
(2) If the Limitations Section of the applicable POH/AFM contains the exact text found in table 2 of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014, there is no need for a POH/AFM revision.
(3) If the Limitations Section of the applicable POH/AFM does not contain the exact text found in Table 2 of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1266, dated December 16, 2014, then revise the POH/AFM by inserting into the Limitations Section of the POH/AFM a fabricated supplemental page containing the applicable placard text from the Appendix to this AD or a supplemental page obtained from Piper Aircraft, Inc. at the address identified in paragraph (l)(3) of this AD.
In addition to the provisions of 14 CFR 43.3 and 43.7, the actions required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, to include all subparagraphs, may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the airplane records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1)-(4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417. This authority is not applicable to airplanes being operated under 14 CFR part 119.
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.
