AD 57-16-01
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54A-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54B-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54D-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54E-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | C54G-DC | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
| aircraft | The Boeing Company | DC-4 | Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft |
Unsafe Condition
Collapse of the nose gear shock strut due to corrosion and repeated loading over time, or fatigue in the steel piston tube, P/N 8066-4, adjacent to the nose gear fork or near the internal reinforcing sleeve.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Inspect nose gear piston tubes (P/N 8066-4) on both inside and outside diameters for fatigue/corrosion near the internal reinforcing ring, spacer tube/liner, and top edge of the external sleeve. Replace cracked parts or rework per Douglas Service Bulletins. Remove corrosion and apply protection. Parts not reworked must be reworked by January 1, 1958, per SB No. 111.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Compliance Time
As soon as practical but not later than October 1, 1956, unless equivalent inspection was done within the last landing gear overhaul.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
Douglas DC-4 and C-54 Series aircraft, all serial numbers, with nose gear piston tubes P/N 8066-4 and nose gear fork P/N 8066A-60.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Federal Register Abstract
Nose Gear Piston Tube
Applicability Source Text
Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_57-16-01.html Copy URL Print/Save as PDF Document Versions Feedback Details AD Number: 57-16-01 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: Unknown Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft Subject: Nose Gear Piston Tube Status: Current Citation: This information is not available. Citation Publish Date: Effective Date: Make: The Boeing Company Model: C54-DC | C54A-DC | C54B-DC | C54D-DC | C54E-DC | C54G-DC | DC-4 Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Large Airplane Affected AD: Superseded AD: Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 57-16-01 CITATION: This information is not available. PAGE NUMBER: DOCKET NUMBER: Unknown AMENDMENT: AD NUMBER: 57-16-01 SUBJECT HEADING: Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft ACTION: SUMMARY: DATES: ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: REGULATORY TEXT: 57-16-01 DOUGLAS: Applies to All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft. Compliance required as indicated. Accidents have occurred due to the collapse of the nose gear shock strut, P/N 8066 and 8066A. Investigation reveals that some failures have occurred in the steel piston tube, P/N 8066-4, as a result of corrosion and repeated loading over an extended period of time, while others have failed from fatigue only. Initial fractures may occur on the outside of the tube adjacent to the top edges of the nose gear fork, P/N 8066A-60, or on the inside of the tube in the vicinity of the top of the internal reinforcing sleeve. Because of this, the following must be accomplished: 1. Inspect as soon as practical but not later than October 1, 1956, unless equivalent inspection conducted within the last landing gear overhaul, all nose gear piston tubes, P/N 8066-4, both on the inside and on the outside diameters, for evidence of fatigue and/or excessive corrosion in the vicinity of the edges of the internal reinforcing ring and spacer tube or liner and in the vicinity of the top edge of the external sleeve, for evidence of cracks. 2. If cracks are found the part must be replaced. (Certain parts can be reworked in accordance with Douglas Service Bulletins. Such parts may be continued in service after rework provided the repetitive inspections limitations contained in the Service Bulletin are adhered to.) 3. Any corrosion found to exist must be removed and the part provided with adequate corrosion protection. 4. Parts found to be satisfactory and not reworked per Douglas Service Bulletins may be continued in service until January 1, 1958, and then must be reworked per Douglas Service Bulletin No. 111. (Douglas Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111 dated April 19, 1956, and revised November 6, 1956, covers this same subject, and outlines methods of inspections with the limitations on each as well as permanent rework instructions. Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111, Addendum No. 1 dated November 6, 1956, covers Operations Limitations on unreworked nose gear struts as well as struts reworked per Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111, reissued October 3, 1956.) This supersedes AD 56-12-01. FOOTER:
Document Text
Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_57-16-01.html Copy URL Print/Save as PDF Document Versions Feedback Details AD Number: 57-16-01 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: Unknown Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft Subject: Nose Gear Piston Tube Status: Current Citation: This information is not available. Citation Publish Date: Effective Date: Make: The Boeing Company Model: C54-DC | C54A-DC | C54B-DC | C54D-DC | C54E-DC | C54G-DC | DC-4 Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Large Airplane Affected AD: Superseded AD: Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 57-16-01 CITATION: This information is not available. PAGE NUMBER: DOCKET NUMBER: Unknown AMENDMENT: AD NUMBER: 57-16-01 SUBJECT HEADING: Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft ACTION: SUMMARY: DATES: ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: REGULATORY TEXT: 57-16-01 DOUGLAS: Applies to All DC-4 and C-54 Series Aircraft. Compliance required as indicated. Accidents have occurred due to the collapse of the nose gear shock strut, P/N 8066 and 8066A. Investigation reveals that some failures have occurred in the steel piston tube, P/N 8066-4, as a result of corrosion and repeated loading over an extended period of time, while others have failed from fatigue only. Initial fractures may occur on the outside of the tube adjacent to the top edges of the nose gear fork, P/N 8066A-60, or on the inside of the tube in the vicinity of the top of the internal reinforcing sleeve. Because of this, the following must be accomplished: 1. Inspect as soon as practical but not later than October 1, 1956, unless equivalent inspection conducted within the last landing gear overhaul, all nose gear piston tubes, P/N 8066-4, both on the inside and on the outside diameters, for evidence of fatigue and/or excessive corrosion in the vicinity of the edges of the internal reinforcing ring and spacer tube or liner and in the vicinity of the top edge of the external sleeve, for evidence of cracks. 2. If cracks are found the part must be replaced. (Certain parts can be reworked in accordance with Douglas Service Bulletins. Such parts may be continued in service after rework provided the repetitive inspections limitations contained in the Service Bulletin are adhered to.) 3. Any corrosion found to exist must be removed and the part provided with adequate corrosion protection. 4. Parts found to be satisfactory and not reworked per Douglas Service Bulletins may be continued in service until January 1, 1958, and then must be reworked per Douglas Service Bulletin No. 111. (Douglas Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111 dated April 19, 1956, and revised November 6, 1956, covers this same subject, and outlines methods of inspections with the limitations on each as well as permanent rework instructions. Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111, Addendum No. 1 dated November 6, 1956, covers Operations Limitations on unreworked nose gear struts as well as struts reworked per Service Bulletin DC-4 No. 111, reissued October 3, 1956.) This supersedes AD 56-12-01. FOOTER:
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Always verify with official sources.