Requires Establishing A Life Limit For (Alternate Bolts That Attach The Drag Link To The Nose Gear) Bolts

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-34-200 airplanes.

This AD was prompted by the determination that the life limit for alternate bolts that attach the drag link to the nose gear were not listed as airworthiness limitations. This AD requires establishing a life limit for these bolts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective May 31, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2022 (87 FR 6089; corrected February 16, 2022, 87 FR 8752). The NPRM was prompted by a notification from Piper that prior revisions of the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) for certain Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes did not contain a life limit for bolt part number (P/N) 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D). Bolt P/N 693-215 (NAS6207-50D) is an alternate part for P/N 400-274 (standard P/N AN7-35). These bolts attach the drag link to the nose gear trunnion on Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes. Piper did not include an ALS revision for the P/N 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D) bolt to establish the same life limit as the P/N 400-274 (AN7-35). If bolt P/N 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D) that attaches the drag link to the nose gear trunnion remains in service beyond its fatigue life, failure of the nose landing gear could occur, which could result in loss of airplane control during take-off, landing, or taxi operations.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require establishing a 500-hour life limit for bolt P/N 693215 and P/N NAS6207-50D. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMI: www.regulations.gov