AD 73-11-02

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes

AD Number
73-11-02
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.
Technical illustration of an aircraft landing gear and wheel assembly
Problem area Landing gear

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-34-200 Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes

Unsafe Condition

Weakening of the main landing gear support structure due to cracks and/or wrinkles in wing ribs and skins, which may propagate from the forward lower corner of the rib web toward the aft upper corner, and cracks at the main landing gear aft trunnion fitting attachment point.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Visually check left and right wing lower surface skins for wrinkles outboard of the wheel well openings. If wrinkles are present, check wing ribs at wing station 69.24 for cracks/ wrinkles in the web. If wrinkles are present and modification kit 760 696V is not installed, check the aft false spar attachment area for cracks. Replace affected parts with serviceable parts or make an FAA-approved repair if cracks/ wrinkles are found. Repeat inspections every 10 hours time in service. After hard landings, perform the checks again. If modification kit 760 696V is installed and Service Bulletin 406 is complied with, repetitive inspections are no longer required.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

within the next 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours time in service from the last inspection

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes with serial numbers 34-E4 and 34-7250001 through 34-7450039

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

Main Landing Gear Support Structure

Applicability Source Text

Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_73-11-02.html
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AD Number:
73-11-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes
Subject:
Main Landing Gear Support Structure
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
12/04/1973
Effective Date:
12/03/1973
Make:
Piper Aircraft Inc.
Model:
PA-34-200
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Small Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-720: Operational Safety Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 73-11-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:   39-1747

AD NUMBER:   73-11-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:   Effective December 3, 1973.

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
73-11-02 PIPER: Amdt. 39-1639 as amended by Amendment 39-1649 is further amended by Amendment 39-1747. Applies to Model PA-34-200 airplanes Serial Numbers 34-E4 and 34-7250001 through 34-7450039 certificated in all categories.

Compliance required within the next 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours time in service from the last inspection.

To detect weakening of the main landing gear support structure, accomplish the following:

(a) Visually check both left and right wing lower surface skins for wrinkling immediately outboard of the wheel well openings.

(b) If wrinkles are present, visually check the wing ribs located at the outer end of the wheel wells (wing station 69.24) for cracks and/or wrinkles in the web. These cracks or wrinkles emanate from the forward lower corner where the rib attaches to the main spar and may propagate toward the aft upper corner of the web.

(c) If wrinkles are present and Aft Wing Modification Kit, Piper Part No. 760 696V, has not been installed, check the area where the main landing gear aft trunnion fitting attaches to the aft false spar for cracks.

(d) If cracks or wrinkles are present in the areas described in (b) or (c), replace affected parts with serviceable parts of the same part number or make an FAA approved repair before further flight.

The checks required by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) should also be accomplished after unusually fast and/or hard landings.

Piper Service Bulletin No. 369 pertains to this subject.

The initial inspection and repetitive inspections at 10 hours intervals are still required after compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 369, and/or after repair/replacement of the rib has been accomplished.

The checks required by paragraph (a) may be performed by the pilot.

When aft wing modification kit Piper Part No. 760 696V has been installed and the inspection and reservicing of the main landing gear oleo struts has been accomplished in accordance with the "Instructions" section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 406, the repetitive inspections in (a), (b), and (c) above are no longer necessary.

NOTE: Serial Numbers 34-7250023; 34-7250090; 34-7250203; 34-7250262; 34- 7250275; 34-7250282; 34-7250290; 34-7250296; 34-7250316; 34-7250317; 34-7250319; 34- 7250322; 34-7250325; 34-7250326; 34-7250328; 34-7250330; 34-7250331; 34-7250333; 34- 7250334; and 34-7250336 and up have had Piper Kit No. 760696V installed at the factory.

Amendment 39-1639 became effective May 21, 1973.

Amendment 39-1649 became effective May 31, 1973.

This Amendment 39-1747 becomes effective December 3, 1973.

FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_73-11-02.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
73-11-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes
Subject:
Main Landing Gear Support Structure
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
12/04/1973
Effective Date:
12/03/1973
Make:
Piper Aircraft Inc.
Model:
PA-34-200
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Small Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-720: Operational Safety Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 73-11-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:   39-1747

AD NUMBER:   73-11-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Piper Model PA-34-200 Airplanes

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:   Effective December 3, 1973.

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
73-11-02 PIPER: Amdt. 39-1639 as amended by Amendment 39-1649 is further amended by Amendment 39-1747. Applies to Model PA-34-200 airplanes Serial Numbers 34-E4 and 34-7250001 through 34-7450039 certificated in all categories.

Compliance required within the next 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours time in service from the last inspection.

To detect weakening of the main landing gear support structure, accomplish the following:

(a) Visually check both left and right wing lower surface skins for wrinkling immediately outboard of the wheel well openings.

(b) If wrinkles are present, visually check the wing ribs located at the outer end of the wheel wells (wing station 69.24) for cracks and/or wrinkles in the web. These cracks or wrinkles emanate from the forward lower corner where the rib attaches to the main spar and may propagate toward the aft upper corner of the web.

(c) If wrinkles are present and Aft Wing Modification Kit, Piper Part No. 760 696V, has not been installed, check the area where the main landing gear aft trunnion fitting attaches to the aft false spar for cracks.

(d) If cracks or wrinkles are present in the areas described in (b) or (c), replace affected parts with serviceable parts of the same part number or make an FAA approved repair before further flight.

The checks required by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) should also be accomplished after unusually fast and/or hard landings.

Piper Service Bulletin No. 369 pertains to this subject.

The initial inspection and repetitive inspections at 10 hours intervals are still required after compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 369, and/or after repair/replacement of the rib has been accomplished.

The checks required by paragraph (a) may be performed by the pilot.

When aft wing modification kit Piper Part No. 760 696V has been installed and the inspection and reservicing of the main landing gear oleo struts has been accomplished in accordance with the "Instructions" section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 406, the repetitive inspections in (a), (b), and (c) above are no longer necessary.

NOTE: Serial Numbers 34-7250023; 34-7250090; 34-7250203; 34-7250262; 34- 7250275; 34-7250282; 34-7250290; 34-7250296; 34-7250316; 34-7250317; 34-7250319; 34- 7250322; 34-7250325; 34-7250326; 34-7250328; 34-7250330; 34-7250331; 34-7250333; 34- 7250334; and 34-7250336 and up have had Piper Kit No. 760696V installed at the factory.

Amendment 39-1639 became effective May 21, 1973.

Amendment 39-1649 became effective May 31, 1973.

This Amendment 39-1747 becomes effective December 3, 1973.

FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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