68-12-04: Gear Retraction Fittings
FAA order 68-12-04 is an airworthiness directive in force since June 14, 1968. The FAA's subject line: Gear Retraction Fittings. 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: landing gear.
What it applies to as the FAA lists it
- Kind of product
- Aircraft
- Makes
- Piper Aircraft Inc.
- Models
- PA-28R-180
- On this site
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,633 registered
Dates and paperwork
- In force since
- June 14, 1968
- Published
- June 12, 1968 (signed June 5, 1968)
- 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 (1,813 characters)
68-12-04 PIPER: Amendment 39-610. Applies to Model PA-28R-180 Series Airplanes, Serial Numbers 28-30004 to 28-30358 incl., 28-30361 to 28-30390 incl., 28-30392 to 28-30401 incl., 28-30403 to 28-30416 incl., 28-30418 to 28-30420 incl., 28-30423 to 28-30426 incl., 28- 30428 to 28-30443 incl., 28-30445 to 28-30448 incl., 28-30451 to 28-30457 incl., 28-30459 to 28-30461 incl., 28-30462, 28-30464, 28-30466 to 28-30468 incl., 28-30470, 28-30472, 28-30473, 28-30477 to 28-30483 to 28-30485 incl., 28-30489, 28-30492, 28-30493, 28-30496, 28-30497, 28-30500, 28-30502, 28-30504, 28-30521, 28-30523 and 28-30525.
Compliance required within the next 50 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent failure of the gear retraction fittings, which could cause collapse of the main landing gear, accomplish the following:
(a) Place the aircraft on jacks (to preclude the possibility of the main gear collapsing when retraction fittingsare removed and replaced).
(b) Remove the existing retraction fittings (part number 67031-00 L.H., and part number 67031-01 R.H.) and replace with part number 67031-02 (L.H.) and part number 67031- 03 (R.H.). Add bushing part number 65003-48 to the retraction fittings and torque to 20-25 inch pounds. Also, replace part number 400 679 Clevis Bolt (AN23-17) with part number 424 181 Clevis Pin (AN393-24), using existing washers. Safety with part number 424 051 Cotter Pin (AN380-2-2).
NOTE: Insure that the turnbuckle is not altered from its original position or it will be necessary to re-rig the gear down lock system.
(c) Perform retraction test and insure proper operation.
Piper Service Bulletin No. 274, dated June 3, 1968, covers this same subject.
This amendment becomes effective June 14, 1968.
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/68-12-04.json · aircraft systems.