Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-9621 · The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T Series Airplanes
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T Series Airplanes
The following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category, that do not have left and right main landing gear (MLG) forward sidebraces of improved design installed, part numbers (P/N) 85165-02 (left) and 85165-03 (right) or P/N 85166-02 (left) and 85166-03 (right). Models Serial Nos. PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325........ 31-2 through 31-8312019. PA31-350............................ 31-5001 through 31-8553002. PA31P............................... 31P-2 through 31P-7730012. PA31P-350........................... 31P-8414001 through 31P-8414050. PA31T............................... 31T-7400002 through 31T-8120104. PA31T1.............................. 31T-7804001 through 31T-8304003 and 31T-1104004 through 31T- 1104017. PA31T2.............................. 31T-8166001 through 31T-8166076 and 31T-1166001 through 31T- 1166008.
This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 88-05- 05, which currently requires the following on certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T series airplanes: repetitively inspecting both the left and right main landing gear (MLG) forward sidebrace, and replacing any cracked MLG forward sidebrace. The Federal Aviation Administration's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available. This action retains the current repetitive inspection and necessary replacement requirements contained in AD 88- 05-05, and requires incorporating both a left and right MLG forward sidebrace of improved design as terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirement. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the MLG from retracting because of a cracked MLG forward side brace, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in gear collapse and loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.
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
