TailplateTailplate
Run a report

Airworthiness Directive 98-09-25

one-time
Official AD 98-09-25 · FR doc 98-11161 · 1998-04-28 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA- 31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 Airplanes

What this AD requires

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. This AD requires replacing the lower spar splice plate and reworking the lower spar caps. This AD results from numerous reports of fretting and cracking of the lower spar splice plates on Piper PA-31 series airplanes in Australia, and a report of one incident in the United States. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the lower spar splice plate caused by fretting and cracking, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Which aircraft AD 98-09-25 applies to

MakesThe New Piper Aircraft, Inc.
ModelsPA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350
Part-conditional — 766-640, 766-641.

Replace the lower spar splice plate and rework lower spar caps per Piper SB No. 1003 (June 16, 1997). PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325: upon accumulating 6,000 hours TIS on the lower spar splice plate or within next 100 hours TIS after effective date, whichever later, using Kit No. 766-640 (Drawing 88254 Rev A). PA-31-350: upon accumulating 13,000 hours TIS or within next 100 hours TIS after effective date, whichever later, using Kit No. 766-641 (Drawing 88255 Rev A). Prevents failure of the lower spar splice plate from fretting/cracking.

Whether AD 98-09-25 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:

Method of compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
Date — When the work was done.
Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 98-09-25 complied with on your aircraft?

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.