The FAA has extended the comment period on a “controversial” Airworthiness Directive (AD) that would require replacing the rudders on close to 31,000 Piper aircraft.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published Oct. 6, 2023, the FAA proposed the AD, which was prompted by two non-fatal accidents involving Piper aircraft that were caused by broken rudder posts that structurally failed above the upper hinge in flight. Both accidents occurred in Anchorage, Alaska.
The first accident occurred on June 8, 2020, and involved a PA-12, while the second occurred on July 23, 2021, and involved a PA-14. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage when the rudder structurally failed.
After examination, it was determined that the rudder posts fractured above the upper hinge, with the top portion of the rudder folding over the upper tail brace wires. The rudder posts were made from 1025 carbon steel and fractured due to fatigue.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposes requiring replacing any rudder equipped with a rudder post made from 1025 carbon steel with a rudder equipped with a rudder post made from 4130N low-alloy steel.
The agency notes that Piper Aircraft switched from 1025 carbon steel to 4130N low-alloy steel in 1974, which means that owners of aircraft built before 1974 would be required to replace their rudders. Estimated cost of the fix is $3,000.
The original comment period was set to close Nov. 20, 2023, but after receiving requests from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Short Wing Piper Club, and other commenters to extend the comment period, agency officials agreed to extend the comment period 90 days. The new deadline is Feb. 20, 2024.
According to FAA officials, the commenters stated that an extension was needed as the “NPRM is controversial and could drive substantial costs, among other things.”
“The FAA agrees with the request and has determined that it is appropriate to extend the comment period for the NPRM to give all interested persons additional time to examine the proposed requirements and submit comments,” agency officials said. “The FAA has determined that extending the comment period an additional 90 days will not compromise the safety of the affected airplanes.”
You can learn more about the NPRM and AD, as well as make a comment, at FederalRegister.gov.
“The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments,” agency officials concluded.
This is a typical over reaction of a government dept. Out of 31 thousand aircraft and only 2 failures. How about having an inspection and report back AD. You. would have to look at the aircraft history of modifications, aircraft mission usage, [how many hours each aircraft had completed] , environment ,and particular type of Piper model.
I wholly agree. My PA 12 was modified with a tail beacon and a higher hp engine. I removed the beacon right away. I am surprised about the proposed AD but if the rudder were to fail there is no guarantee it won’t be fatal. Cost for the replacement was $2,000,
I own a 1946 PA 12 on floats. When I heard about the rudder failures I checked the log books to determine if the rudder was original to the aircraft when the plane was fully restored about 12 years ago. It appeared to have been the original rudder. I immediately moved to have a new rudder frame covered and installed. I didn’t wait for an AD. I feel comfortable and confident now that I replaced the rudder.
In your case that may be a good move and I tend to agree with your decision.
The proposed AD, however is extreme over reach, it was prompted by failures of two modified aircraft PA- series aircraft with rudder mounted beacons and higher horsepower engines.
The unmodified lower horse power J/PA- series with the straight trailing edge rudder and no rudder mounted beacon have no history of failure and should not be included in the AD…