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. 20,194 are on file, 291 of them issued as emergencies, 286 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.
6 orders on airframe structure on the Cessna 172 Skyhawk family newest first
The list behind a number on the Cessna 172 Skyhawk page. Every order.
| Order | In force | Applies to | What it is about | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-18-01 | 2020-11-12 | Textron Aviation Inc. 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172RG and 61 more | Fuselage | Airframe structure |
| 98-21-21 R1 | 2000-05-01 | Cessna Aircraft Company, Emerald Enterprises Ltd. 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31, 17-31A and 266 more | Electric Inflatable Door Seals | Airframe structure |
| 98-14-07 | 1998-08-16 | Cessna Aircraft Company 172R | Lower Forward Doorpost | Airframe structure |
| 97-12-06 | 1997-07-15 | Cessna Aircraft Company 172R | Check Clearance Between Cowling and Gascolator and Cowling and Tailpipe | Airframe structure |
| 74-04-01 | 1974-02-12 | Cessna Aircraft Company 172, 172A, 172B, 172C and 15 more | Aft Fuselage Bulkhead Assembly | Airframe structure |
| 73-23-07 | 1973-11-19 | Cessna Aircraft Company 150, 150A, 150B, 150C and 67 more | Defective Spar Attachment Fittings | Airframe structure |
Source: FAA airworthiness directives (final rules and emergency directives) from the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System, as of October 10, 2026. The FAA's text is the authority; this site adds the links to models, engines and the register. Related: aircraft systems · type certificates.