Airworthiness Directive 97-12-06
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172R Airplanes
What this AD requires
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-12-06, which was sent previously to known U.S. owners and operators of certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Model 172R airplanes. This AD requires checking the clearance between both the gascolator and cowling area and the tailpipe and cowling area, and modifying these areas immediately if any evidence of rubbing at either location is found or modifying the gascolator to cowling area within a certain time period if no evidence of rubbing at either location is found. This AD results from an occurrence of fuel loss on a Cessna Model 172R airplane, which was severe enough to force an emergency landing. Investigation of the occurrence reveals that the cowling knocked the gascolator drain valve off the gascolator. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the cowling from rubbing against the gascolator drain valve or the tailpipe, which could result in fuel loss and engine stoppage.
Which aircraft AD 97-12-06 applies to
Gascolator drain valve and tailpipe-to-cowling clearance check and modification per Cessna SB97-28-01 (dated Jun 6 1997) to prevent cowling rubbing that could cause fuel loss and engine stoppage. The specific affected model designation is not present in the extracted applicability window.
Whether AD 97-12-06 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.
How AD compliance is recorded
A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:
Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.
Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.