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FAA orders · airworthiness directive · current

2016-07-21: Wing Ribs/Bulkhead

FAA order 2016-07-21 is an airworthiness directive in force since April 26, 2016. The FAA's subject line: Wing Ribs/Bulkhead. It names Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow: about 18,633 aircraft on the U.S. register today, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: airframe structure.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product
Aircraft
Makes
Piper Aircraft Inc.
Models
PA-28-161, PA-28-181, PA-28R-201
On this site
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,633 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
April 26, 2016
Published
April 11, 2016 (signed March 28, 2016)
Docket
FAA-2016-5432
Replaces
2015-20-13
Status
Current
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-20-13 for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-161, PA-28-181, and PA-28R- 201 airplanes. AD 2015-20-13 required inspecting the right wing rib at wing station 140.09 for cracks and taking necessary corrective action. This AD retains the actions for AD 2015-20-13 and adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports that additional airplanes have been found with the same cracks. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (6,468 characters)
Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-20-13, Amendment 39-18292 (80 FR 61725, October 14, 2015) and adding the following new AD: 2016-07-21 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-18466; Docket No. FAA- 2016-5432; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-009-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective April 26, 2016. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2015-20-13, Amendment 39-18292 (80 FR 61725) (``AD 2015-20-13''). (c) Applicability This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplanes certificated in any category. (1) Airplanes previously affected by AD 2015-20-13: Model PA-28- 161 airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 2842393 through 2842395; Model PA-28-181 airplanes, S/Ns 2843769 through 2843775 and 2843779 through 2843791; and Model PA-28R-201 airplanes, S/N 2844152. (2) Airplanes new to this AD: Model PA-28-161 airplanes, S/Ns 2842010 through 2842392; Model PA-28-181 airplanes, S/Ns 2843021 through 2843768; and Model PA-28R-201 airplane, S/Ns 2844004 through 2844151. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 5712, Wing Ribs/Bulkhead. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of cracks found in the wing rib on airplanes outside the Applicability, paragraph (c), of AD 2015- 20-13. The cracks occurred in production during forming of the wing rib bead radius. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the wing rib, which if not corrected, could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing with consequent loss of control. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Inspect (1) Inspect the right wing rib at wing station (WS) 140.09 for cracks at the following compliance times. (i) For airplanes previously affected by AD 2015-20-13: Within the next 25 hours time-in-service after (TIS) after October 29, 2015 (the effective date retained from AD 2015-20-13) following the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279, dated August 26, 2015, or Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279A, dated March 3, 2016. (ii) For airplanes new to this AD: Within the next 25 hours TIS after April 26, 2016 (the effective date of this AD) following the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279A, dated March 3, 2016. (2) If any crack is detected during the inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, obtain and implement an FAA-approved repair scheme, approved specifically for this AD. At the operator's discretion, assistance may be provided by contacting Piper Aircraft, Inc. at the address identified in paragraph (k)(5) of this AD. (h) Special Flight Permit A special flight permit is allowed for this AD per 14 CFR 39.23 for the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. If a crack is found during the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, a special flight permit is allowed with the following limitations: (1) Flight must be planned to the nearest location where repairs can be done; (2) Indicated airspeed must be 120 knots or less for the entire flight; (3) Bank angle is not to exceed 30 degrees for the entire flight; (4) Maximum load factors must be between +3.0 and -1.0 for the entire flight; and (5) Flight must be performed VFR, with no turbulence greater than ``light'' forecast for the planned flight route and altitude. (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. (j) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Gregory ``Keith'' Noles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; fax: (404) 474- 5606; email: gregory.noles@faa.gov. (k) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Registerapproved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on April 26, 2016. (i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279A, dated March 3, 2016. (ii) Reserved. (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on October 29, 2015 (80 FR 61725, October 14, 2015). (i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279, dated August 26, 2015. (ii) Reserved. (5) For Piper Aircraft, Inc. service information identified in this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Service, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: (877) 879-0275; fax: none; email: customer.service@piper.com; Internet: www.piper.com. (6) You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, SmallAirplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA- 2016-5432. (7) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2022-10-192022-20 · Wing Spar
2021-06-29AIR-21-10 · Wing, Attach Fittings (JASC 5740)
2021-03-30AIR-21-07 · WING SPAR, Verification of Correct Washers used with Wing Spar Attach Bolts
2018-11-21SW-18-31 · NAVIGATION, ATTITUDE, AND DIRECTION DATA SYSTEM
2018-08-30CE-18-25 · Powerplant; Air Intake

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of October 7, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2016-07-21.json · aircraft systems.