# AD 48-03-03: Header Tank Installation

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-11
- Published: June 17, 1950
- Issued: June 17, 1950
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Registered aircraft: 442 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/F4FCDB7B83F544ED8625698B00763E07.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/48-03-03

## The airworthiness directive

48-03-03 PIPER: Applies to PA-11 Aircraft Serial Numbers 11-1 Through 11-301, and 11-1350 Through 11-1400, Except Serial Numbers 11-233, 11-243, 11-261, 11-266, 11-281, 11- 296, and 11-300.

Compliance required by April 1, 1948.

In order to prevent engine malfunctioning due to insufficient fuel flow when less than 5 gallons of fuel are in the wing tank and the airplane is operated in prolonged glides and dives, a header tank (Piper P/N 10725) must be installed in the fuel system. Until the header tank is installed, avoid prolonged glides and dives when less than 5 gallons fuel are in the main tank. (Piper Service Bulletin No. 99 dated July 29, 1947, covers this subject.)

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A-691](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-691): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 7 models: PA-11

## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs)

Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment.

- Aircraft: 442 (442 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 439, Piper / Harris 1, Piper-Carter 1, Piper-Smith 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11): 439 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper-Smith PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-smith-pa-11): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper-Carter PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-carter-pa-11): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper / Harris PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-harris-pa-11): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 5 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/48-03-03/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/48-03-03/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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