What the FAA has ordered
An airworthiness directive is an order: when the FAA finds an unsafe condition in a design, it tells the owners of every aircraft, engine or propeller of that design what to inspect, repair or replace, and by when. 20,214 are on file, 291 of them issued as emergencies, 306 so far this year. Each one here is linked to the model families and engine series it names, with the number of aircraft on the register today.
4 orders on engine of the 1950s newest first
| Order | In force | Applies to | What it is about | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56-26-03 | 1957-04-11 | Pratt & Whitney Division Military R-985 Series, Wasp Jr. A, Wasp Jr. B-4, Wasp Jr. B-5 and 9 more | Crankshaft | Engine |
| 55-14-02 | 1956-12-04 | Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-23 | Hydraulic Cylinder Replacement | Engine |
| 55-08-04 | 1956-12-04 | Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-22 | Ignition Filter Replacement | Engine |
| 52-12-01 | 1956-12-04 | Aero Spacelines Incorporated 377, 377MG, 377SGT | Compressor Motors | Engine |
Source: FAA airworthiness directives (final rules and emergency directives) from the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System, as of October 31, 2026. The FAA's text is the authority; this site adds the links to models, engines and the register. Related: aircraft systems · type certificates.