Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11189 · The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA- 31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, and PA-31P-350 Airplanes
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA- 31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, and PA-31P-350 Airplanes
The following airplane model and serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are not equipped with the applicable improved design elevators or elevator spar assemblies specified in the "Replacement Elevator P/N" and "Replace Spar P/ N" columns of the "Material Required Table" on page 4 of Piper Service Bulletin No. 998A, dated August 4, 1997: Models Serial No. PA-31, PA-31-300, and PA-31-325........... 31-2 through 31-8312019 PA-31-350................................. 31-5001 through 31-8553002 PA-31P-350................................ 31P-8414001 through 31P- 8414050
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, and PA-31P-350 airplanes. This AD requires installing access holes for the inspection of the elevator spar; inspecting the elevator ice protection boots for looseness and reinstalling or replacing the elevator ice protection boots if looseness is found. This AD also requires repetitively inspecting the elevator spars for cracks, and replacing the elevators or elevator spar assemblies with parts of improved design either at a certain time period or when cracks are found, whichever occurs first. This AD is the result of reports of cracks developing in the elevator spar inboard of the outboard hinge location on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the elevator spar caused by fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced airplane controllability.
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.
