61-16-06: Fuel Selector Valve Handles
FAA order 61-16-06 is an airworthiness directive in force since August 31, 1961. The FAA's subject line: Fuel Selector Valve Handles. It names Piper PA-24 Comanche: about 2,428 aircraft on the U.S. register today, 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-24, PA-24-250
- On this site
- Piper PA-24 Comanche 2,428 registered
Dates and paperwork
- In force since
- August 31, 1961
- Published
- July 29, 1961 (signed July 24, 1961)
- Docket
- Unknown
- Status
- Current
- The FAA's document
- Read the order on the FAA's site
The order itself the regulatory text, as published
Show the full text (1,451 characters)
61-16-06 PIPER: Amdt. 314 Part 507 Federal Register July 29, 1961. Applies to All PA- 24 and PA-24 "250" Aircraft Modified to Incorporate Brittain Wing Tip Fuel Tanks (Supplemental Type Certificates Nos. SA4-1235 and SA4-1351).
Compliance required within the next 150 hours' time in service after the effective date or at the next disassembly of fuel selector valves, whichever occurs first.
The fuel selector valve handles of aircraft equipped with Brittain wing tip fuel tanks can easily be reinstalled with incorrect indexing after the valves have been disassembled for servicing and lubrication. Incorrect indexing can cause serious fuel system malfunctioning and one accident resulting from this condition has been reported. To preclude future incorrect indexing of the fuel selector valve handles, the following must be accomplished:
(a) Remove any valve shafts with four flat sides at the handle end and replace with Brittain P/N 4018-15 shafts, or equivalent. The Brittain P/N 4018-15 shaft is identical to the original except that one of the four sides at the handle end has been modified to a convex shape.
(b) After reassembly and reinstallation of the selector valves, determine that the valve handles are properly indexed with respect to the selector valve placard.
(Brittain Aircraft Enterprises Service Letter No. 4000-1 dated April 26, 1961, covers this same subject.)
This directive effective August 31, 1961.
Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders
2018-11-21SW-18-31 · NAVIGATION, ATTITUDE, AND DIRECTION DATA SYSTEM
2013-05-09NE-13-32 · Propeller Spinner Section
2008-09-17CE-08-50 · Landing Gear Manual Extension System Inspection
2005-07-07CE-05-67 ·
2004-09-15CE-04-88 ·
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 November 6, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/61-16-06.json · aircraft systems.
