February 1, 2005

This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. models and serial numbers listed below, of information to help determine if AD 72-08-02 applies to your airplane. AD 72-08-02 mandates periodic inspections of certain configurations of the four main landing gear (MLG) torque link assemblies to detect cracks adjacent to the 2.5-inch diameter machined boss.
 

	Model Number	Serial Number
	PA-28-140	28-20000 and up
	PA-28-150/-160/-180	28-01 and up
	PA-28-235	28-10000 and up
	PA-32-260	32-01 and up
	PA-32-300	32-40000 and up

Note: Serial Numbers prefixed by model year, such as 28-7120000, are included in the effectivity of AD 72-08-02.

Background

There are two different configurations for the MLG torque link assemblies. They are part number (P/N) 65691-00 (or 65691-00V) and P/N 72032-00.

They can be identified by the differences in cross section as shown in the following sketches:

(Figure 1) Cross Section P/N 65691-00 or 65691-00V (Made from 66306-2 forging)

	(Figure 2) Cross Section P/N 78032-00 (Made from 78031-0 forging)

 

P/N 65691-00 (or 65691-00V) also has the 63306-2 forging part number embossed in it. P/N has a 78031-0 forging number embossed.

You must inspect Piper P/N 65691-00 (or 65691-00V), the ones with the oval crosssection, periodically per AD 72-08-02. Piper P/N 72032-00, the ones with the rectangular cross section and channels, do not require inspection. Piper Service Letter 621 announces the availability of the 72032-00 torque links assemblies as replacements for the 65691-00 (or 65691-00V).

This SAIB is a result of FAA Safety Recommendation 99.004 that arose from an investigation of an accident that occurred on October 31, 1998. In the accident, the lower MLG torque link broke during the landing roll out. The investigation revealed that the AD inspection had not been done because the P/Ns listed in the AD were not visible on the part. The embossed forging number was presumed to be the P/N, and since it did not match the P/Ns in the AD, it was thought that the AD did not apply.

Recommendation

After reviewing the data from the safety recommendation, we recommend that you, an owner or operator, verify the MLG torque link assembly P/N installed on your aircraft and verify that you are in compliance with AD 72-08-02.

For Further Information Contact

William O. Herderich, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Central Region, Atlanta ACO, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349; phone: (770)-703- 6082; fax: (770) 703-6097; email: william.o.herderich@faa.gov