SAIB ACE-96-16 —

No. ACE-96-16 December 24, 1996

Published by: FAA, AFS-610, P.O. Box 26460, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 This is issued for informational purposes only and any recommendation for corrective action is not mandatory.

INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is to advise Piper PA-31, PA-31P, and PA-31T series aircraft owners/operators of the need to review the Service Bulletins (SB’s) listed below to encourage compliance.

BACKGROUND:

As part of the Commuter Aging Aircraft Program, an aging aircraft review conducted by the FAA, the manufacturer, and operators of PA-31 series aircraft identified actions (SB’s) that should be accomplished to ensure continued airworthiness of the aircraft.

The following two SB's, identified in the review, address inspection/repair of the elevator butt rib:

1. SB 864 dated October 14, 1987, specifies a one-time inspection within the

next 100-hours time-in-service (TIS) on Models PA-31, PA-31-300, and

PA-31-325 (serial numbers (S/N) 31-2 through 31-7612039) and Model

PA-31-350 (S/N 31-5001 through 31-7652070) aircraft.

2. SB 897A dated January 3, 1990, specifies inspection within the next

100-hours TIS and thereafter at 500-hour TIS intervals with the option

for terminating action upon the installation of Piper Kit 766-219,

elevator butt rib refinement. SB 897A is applicable to Model

PA-31P, PA-31T, PA-31T1, and PA-31T2 aircraft (all S/N).

Although SB 864 specifies a one-time inspection and SB 897A identifies a terminating action modification, ongoing inspections of the elevator butt rib should be accomplished during routine inspections of the aircraft.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The SB’s listed above were not considered appropriate for airworthiness directive action; however, the FAA strongly encourages that owner/operator review the aircraft’s records to ensure compliance.

2 ACE-96-16

A copy of the service publications listed above may be obtained from:

The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.

2926 Piper Drive

Vero Beach, Florida 32960

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2-160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748; telephone (404) 305-7362; facsimile (404) 305-7348.