AD 2021-25-11 Retains The Actions Of AD 78-02-03...

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 78-02-03, which applied to all Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-23-250 airplanes.

AD 78-02-03 required repetitively inspecting the stabilator tip tube and weight assemblies for cracks, inspecting for missing rivets and screws, replacing the forward rib/horn assemblies, and reinforcing the mounting. Since AD 78-02-03 was issued, Piper developed a newly-designed stabilator, which is not subject to the unsafe condition, and revised its service information. This AD retains the actions of AD 78-02-03, but reduces the applicability and requires the actions in the revised service information. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective January 25, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by superseding AD 78-02-03 [Reg. Docket No. 77-EA-81, Amendment 39-3128] (43 FR 3079, January 23, 1978) (AD 78-02-03). AD 78-02-03 applied to all Piper Model PA-23-250 airplanes and required repetitively inspecting both the stabilator tip tube and weight assemblies for cracks. For different groups of serial-numbered airplanes, AD 78-02-03 required a one-time inspection of the stabilator tip ribs for missing rivets and screws, replacement of the forward rib/horn assemblies, and reinforcement of the mounting. The repetitive inspections in AD 78-02-03 for all serial-numbered airplanes had no terminating action and were required regardless of any corrective actions performed.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2021 (86 FR 51636). The NPRM was prompted by Piper developing a newly-designed stabilator, which is not subject to the unsafe condition, and revising its service information. The FAA determined the applicability of AD 78-02-03 should be revised to exclude airplanes beginning with serial number 27-7954122, which were manufactured with the stabilator design change. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain all of the requirements of AD 78-02-03 but reduce the applicability and update some of the service information that would be required for compliance. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMI: www.regulations.gov