AD 2015-08-04 Airworthiness Directives; Various Aircraft Equipped With Wing Lift Struts

Makes named: piper. Models named: J3C-65. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to the following airplanes identified in Table 1 and Table 2 to paragraph (c) of this AD, that are equipped with wing lift struts, including airplanes commonly known as a “Clipped Wing Cub,” which modify the airplane primarily by removing approximately 40 inches of the inboard portion of each wing; and are certificated in any category. (1) Based on optional engine installations some airplanes may have been re-identified or registered with another model that is not listed in the type certificate data sheet (TCDS). For instance, Piper Model J3C-65 airplanes are type certificated on Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A-691 but may also have been re-identified or registered as a Model J3C-115, J3F-50, J3C-75, J3C-75D, J3C-75S, J3L-75, J3C-85, J3C-85S, J3C-90, J3F-90, J3F-90S, J3C-100, or J3-L4J airplane. (2) The airplane model number on the affected airplane or its registry may or may not contain the dash (-), e.g. J3 and J-3. This AD applies to both variations. Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: There is a serial number overlap between the Piper PA-18 series airplanes and the Piper Model PA-19 (Army L-18C) airplanes listed in AD 99-01-05 R1. Serial numbers 18-1 through 18-7632 listed for the PA-18 series airplanes are also now listed under Model PA-19 (Army L-18C) and Model PA-19S. Table 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD—Airplanes Previously Affected by AD 99-01-05 R1 Type certificate holder Aircraft model Serial Nos. FS 2000 Corp L-14 All. FS 2001 Corp J5A (Army L-4F), J5A-80, J5B (Army L-4G), J5C, AE-1, and HE-1 All. FS 2002 Corporation PA-14 14-1 through 14-523. FS 2003 Corporation PA-12 and PA-12S 12-1 through 12-4036. LAVIA ARGENTINA S.A. (LAVIASA) PA-25, PA-25-235, and PA-25-260 25-1 through 25-8156024. Piper Aircraft, Inc TG-8 (Army TG-8, Navy XLNP-1) All. Piper Aircraft, Inc E-2 and F-2 All. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3C-40, J3C-50, J3C-50S, J3C-65 (Army L-4, L-4B, L-4H, L-4J, Navy NE-1 and NE-2), J3C-65S, J3F-50, J3F-50S, J3F-60, J3F-60S, J3F-65 (Army L-4D), J3F-65S, J3L, J3L-S, J3L-65 (Army L-4C), and J3L-65S All. Piper Aircraft, Inc J4, J4A, J4A-S, and J4E (Army L-4E) 4-401 through 4-1649. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-11 and PA-11S 11-1 through 11-1678. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-15 15-1 through 15-388. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-16 and PA-16S 16-1 through 16-736. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-17 17-1 through 17-215. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-18, PA-18S, PA-18 “105” (Special), PA-18S “105” (Special), PA-18A, PA-18 “125” (Army L-21A), PA-18S “125”, PA-18AS “125”, PA-18 “135” (Army L-21B), PA-18A “135”, PA-18S “135”, PA-18AS “135”, PA-18 “150”, PA-18A “150”, PA-18S “150”, PA-18AS “150”, PA-18A (Restricted), PA-18A “135” (Restricted), and PA-18A “150” (Restricted) 18-1 through 18-8309025, 18900 through 1809032, and 1809034 through 1809040. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-19 (Army L-18C), and PA-19S 18-1 through 18-7632 and 19-1, 19-2, and 19-3. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-20, PA-20S, PA-20 “115”, PA-20S “115”, PA-20 “135”, and PA-20S “135” 20-1 through 20-1121. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-22, PA-22-108, PA-22-135, PA-22S-135, PA-22-150, PA-22S-150, PA-22-160, and PA-22S-160 22-1 through 22-9848. Table 2 to Paragraph (c) of This AD—Airplanes New to This AD Type certificate holder Aircraft model Serial Nos. Piper Aircraft, Inc J-3 1100 through 1200 and 1999 and up that were manufactured before October 15, 1939. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3C-65 (Army L-4A) All. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3P 2325, 2327, 2339, 2340, 2342, 2344, 2345, 2347, 2349, 2351, 2355 and up that were manufactured before January 10, 1942. Piper Aircraft, Inc J4B 4-400 and up that were manufactured before December 11, 1942. Piper Aircraft, Inc J4F 4-828 and up.

Unless already done (compliance with AD 99-01-05 R1 and AD 93-10-06, Amendment 39-8586 (58 FR 29965, May 25, 1993) “AD 93-010-06”), do the following actions within the compliance times specified in paragraphs (g) through (m) of this AD, including all subparagraphs. Properly unsealing and resealing a sealed wing lift strut is still considered a terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD as long as all appropriate regulations and issues are considered, such as static strength, fatigue, material effects, immediate and long-term (internal and external) corrosion protection, resealing methods, etc. Current FAA regulations in 14 CFR 43.13(b) specify that maintenance performed will result in the part's condition to be at least equal to its original or properly altered condition. Any maintenance actions that unseal a sealed wing lift strut should be coordinated with the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) through the local airworthiness authority ( e.g., Flight Standards District Office). There are provisions in paragraph (n) of this AD for approving such actions as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC).

(1) For all airplanes previously affected by AD 99-01-05 R1: Within 1 calendar month after February 8, 1999 (the effective date retained from AD 99-01-05), or within 24 calendar months after the last inspection done in accordance with AD 93-10-06 (which was superseded by AD 99-01-05), whichever occurs later, remove the wing lift struts following Piper Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin (Piper MSB) No. 528D, dated October 19, 1990, or Piper MSB No. 910A, dated October 10, 1989, as applicable. Before further flight after the removal, do the actions in one of the following paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), (i)(1), (i)(2), or (i)(3) of this AD, including all subparagraphs. (2) For all airplanes new to this AD (not previously affected by AD 99-01-05 R1): Within 1 calendar month after the effective date of this AD or within 24 calendar months after the last inspection done in accordance with AD 93-10-06 (which was superseded by AD 99-01-05), whichever occurs later, remove the wing lift struts following Piper Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin (Piper MSB) No. 528D, dated October 19, 1990, or Piper MSB No. 910A, dated October 10, 1989, as applicable. Before further flight after the removal, do the actions in one of the following paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), (i)(1), (i)(2), or (i)(3) of this AD, including all subparagraphs.

(1) The subject of this AD was originally prompted by reports of corrosion damage found on the wing lift struts. AD 99-01-05 R1 is being superseded to include certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models J-3, J3C-65 (Army L4A), J3P, J4B, and J4F airplanes that were inadvertently omitted from the applicability, paragraph (c), of AD 99-01-05 (64 FR 72524, December 28, 1999) “99-01-05” and subsequently AD 99-01-05 R1. Note 2 to paragraph (e) of this AD: There is a serial number overlap between the Piper PA-18 series airplanes and the Piper Model PA-19 (Army L-18C) airplanes listed in AD 99-01-05 R1. Serial numbers 18-1 through 18-7632 listed for the PA-18 series airplanes are also now listed under Model PA-19 (Army L-18C) and Model PA-19S. (2) AD 99-01-05 R1 was issued to clarify the FAA's intention that if a sealed wing lift strut assembly is installed as a replacement part, the repetitive inspection requirement is terminated only if the seal is never improperly broken. If the seal is improperly broken, then that wing lift strut becomes subject to continued repetitive inspections. We did not intend to promote drilling holes into or otherwise unsealing a sealed strut. This AD retains all the actions required in AD 99-01-05 R1. There are no new requirements in this AD except for the addition of certain model airplanes to the applicability, paragraph (c) of this AD. (3) We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion and cracking on the front and rear wing lift struts and forks, which could cause the wing lift strut to fail. This failure could result in the wing separating from the airplane.

This AD supersedes AD 99-01-05 R1, Amendment 39-17688 (78 FR 73997, December 10, 2013; corrected 78 FR 79599, December 31, 2013) “AD 99-01-05 R1”. AD 99-26-19 R1, Amendment 39-17681 (78 FR 76040, December 16, 2013), also relates to the subject of this AD.