Airworthiness directives › 2025-02-11
AD 2025-02-11 Airworthiness Directives; FS 2001 Corp, FS 2002 Corporation, FS 2003 Corporation, Piper, and Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes
Makes named: piper. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.
Applicability*9
This AD applies to all airplane models specified in table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD, certificated in any category, that are not equipped with a rudder having a rudder post made from 4130N low-alloy steel. Note 1 to paragraph (c): Most parts manufacturer approval (PMA) rudders are equipped with a rudder post made from 4130N low-alloy steel. This can be verified by reviewing the individual PMA. Note 2 to paragraph (c): Piper Service Bulletin 1379B, dated May 7, 2024, contains information on how to determine whether a rudder post is made from 4130N low-alloy steel. This is not the only way to determine this and this AD does not require the use of this service bulletin. Table 1 to Paragraph ( c )—Applicable Airplane Models Type certificate holder Airplane model FS 2001 Corp J5A (Army L-4F), J5A-80, J5B (Army L-4G), J5C, AE-1, HE-1. FS 2002 Corporation PA-14. FS 2003 Corporation PA-12, PA-12S. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3C-40, J3C-50, J3C-50S, J3C-65, J3C-65S, PA-11, PA-11S. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3F-50, J3F-50S, J3F-60, J3F-60S, (Army L-4D) J3F-65, J3F-65S. Piper Aircraft, Inc J3L, J3L-S, J3L-65 (ARMY L-4C), J3L-65S. Piper Aircraft, Inc J4, J4A, J4A-S. Piper Aircraft, Inc J4E (ARMY L-4E). Piper J4F. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-15. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-16, PA-16S. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-17. 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-19 (Army L-18C), PA-19S. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-18A (Restricted), PA-18A “135” (Restricted), PA-18A “150” (Restricted). Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-20, PA-20S, PA-20 “115”, PA-20S “115”, PA-20 “135”, PA-20S “135”. Piper Aircraft, Inc PA-22, PA-22-108, PA-22-135, PA-22S-135, PA-22-150, PA-22S-150, PA-22-160, PA-22S-160.
Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
Required actions
(1) At the applicable compliance time for the category type for your airplane specified in table 2 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, replace the rudder with a rudder that is equipped with a rudder post made from 4130N low-alloy steel. Table 2 to Paragraph ( g )(1)—Compliance Times Category type Compliance time Category I Airplanes: Airplanes having both a rudder post mounted beacon light and a 150 or greater horsepower (hp) engine installed Within 2 years after the effective date of this AD. Category II Airplanes: Airplanes having either a rudder post mounted beacon light or a 150 or greater hp engine installed Within 3 years after the effective date of this AD. Category III Airplanes: All airplanes not in Category I or Category II that do not have a rudder post mounted beacon light and have an engine less than 150 hp and greater than 100 hp installed Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD. Category IV Airplanes: All airplanes not in Category I, II, or III that do not have a rudder post mounted beacon light and have an engine of 100 hp or below installed Within 10 years after the effective date of this AD. (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any rudder that is equipped with a rudder post made from 1025 carbon steel on any airplane.
Unsafe condition
This AD was prompted by reports of broken rudders. The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue loading and corrosion of rudder posts made from 1025 carbon steel which, if not addressed, could result in a broken rudder and consequent reduced ability of the flight crew to maintain the safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Affected ADs
None.
Read the original on the Federal Register →
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The directive text above is reproduced from the Federal Register, a work of the United States government and in the public domain. The separation into applicability, compliance and required actions is TrackAD's.*1