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2017-15-05: Air Conditioning

FAA order 2017-15-05 is an airworthiness directive in force since August 28, 2017. The FAA's subject line: Air Conditioning. It names Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec, Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche: about 2,195 aircraft on the U.S. register today across them, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: engine.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product
Aircraft
Makes
Piper Aircraft Inc.
Models
PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, PA-30, PA-E23-250
On this site
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec 1,316 registered
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche 879 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
August 28, 2017
Published
July 24, 2017 (signed July 12, 2017)
Docket
FAA-2017-0157
Replaces
69-13-03
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) 69-13-03 for all Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, PA-E23-250, and PA-30 airplanes. AD 69-13-03 required inspection of the heater exhaust extension, replacement of the extension as necessary, and overhaul of the combustion heater assembly. This AD retains the inspection of the heater exhaust extension with replacement of the extension as necessary and removes the overhaul requirement of the combustion heater assembly. This AD was prompted by a recently issued AD that applies to the Meggitt (Troy), Inc. combustion heaters, and the combustion heater AD incorporates corrective actions for the heater that contradict the overhaul requirement of AD 69-13-03. We are issuing this AD to continue to address the unsafe condition on these products and avoid potential contradiction of actions.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (4,861 characters)
Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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) 69-13-03, Amendment 39-785 (34 FR 9748, June 24, 1969) as amended by AD 69-13-03, Amendment 39-1749 (38 FR 33765, December 7, 1973), and adding the following new AD: 2017-15-05 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-18965; Docket No. FAA- 2017-0157; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-039-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective August 28, 2017. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces Airworthiness Directive (AD) 69-13-03, Amendment 39-785 (34 FR 9748, June 24, 1969) as amended by AD 69-13- 03, Amendment 39-1749 (38 FR 33765, December 7, 1973) (``AD 69-13- 03'').[[Page 34259]] (c) Applicability This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, PA-E23-250, and PA-30 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 21, Air Conditioning. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by the potential of carbon monoxide entering the airplane cabin. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the combustion heater exhaust extension, which could lead to carbon monoxide entering the airplane cabin. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Mild Steel or Stainless Steel Exhaust Extension Determination Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after December 14, 1973 (the effective date retained from AD 69-13-03 as amended by AD 69-13-03, Amendment 39-785 (38 FR 33765, December 7, 1973)), remove the heater exhaust tube shroud and by means of a magnet determine if Stewart-Warner part number (P/N) 486238 exhaust extension (Piper P/N 754-708) is mild steel (magnetic) or stainless steel (non-magnetic). If the exhaust extension is stainless steel, then no further action is required by this AD. (h) Mild Steel Exhaust Extensions If there is a mild steel Stewart-Warner P/N 486238 exhaust extension (Piper P/N 754-708) installed on the airplane, within 25 hours TIS after August 28, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), you must do one of the following actions found in paragraph (h)(1) through (3) of this AD. (1) Replace the mild steel exhaust extension with a stainless steel exhaust extension. (2) Visually inspect the mild steel exhaust extension for deterioration (cracks, corrosion, rust, and/or flaking) and repetitively thereafter visually inspect the exhaust extension at intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS or until the mild steel exhaust extension is replaced with a stainless steel exhaust extension. (3) Disable or remove the combustion heater. (i) Deterioration of the Mild Steel Exhaust Extension If deterioration (cracks, corrosion, rust, and/or flaking) of the extension is found during any of the inspections required in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, before further flight, you must do one of the following actions in paragraph (i)(1) or (2) of this AD. (1) Replace the exhaust extension with a stainless steel exhaust extension or a mild steel P/N 486238 exhaust extension that has been inspected per paragraph (h)(2) of this AD and was found free of deterioration. If you install a mild steel P/N 486238 exhaust extension, you must continue the repetitive visual inspections required in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD. (2) Disable or remove the heater. (j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (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 (k) 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. (3) AMOCs approved for paragraphs (a) and (b) of AD 69-13-03 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD. (k) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Scott Hopper, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5535; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: scott.hopper@faa.gov.

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2018-11-21SW-18-31 · NAVIGATION, ATTITUDE, AND DIRECTION DATA SYSTEM
2017-02-21CE-17-08 · Main Landing Gear Drag Link Bolt
2012-09-17CE-12-44 · Exhaust systems
2008-09-17CE-08-50 · Landing Gear Manual Extension System Inspection
2008-01-09CE-08-11 · Landing Gear

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 5, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2017-15-05.json · aircraft systems.