# AD 50-05-01: Nicopress Sleeve Rework

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-12, PA-12S, J3C-40, J3C-50, J3C-50S, J3C-65S, PA-11, PA-11S and J3C-65 (Army L-4; L-4A; L-4B (Navy NE-1); L-4H; L-4J (Navy NE-2))
- Published: June 17, 1950
- Issued: June 17, 1950
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Registered aircraft: 1,734 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/88060DED3BDE4DB38625698B00764100.0001
- DRS record last changed: April 3, 2026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/50-05-01

## The airworthiness directive

50-05-01 PIPER: Applies to All J3C, PA-11, PA-12 Aircraft Manufactured Between November 1945 and November 1946 Inclusive.

Compliance required at next periodic inspection but not later than March 1, 1950.

In order to minimize the possibility of understrength Nicopress sleeves in the control system, check the major dimension of the pressed portions of all sleeves. If this dimension exceeds 0.353 inch, the sleeve should be repressed to this dimension by two presses with National Telephone Supply Co.'s hand tool 51-M-850. The go-gage furnished with the tool may be used to check the 0.353-inch dimension. In repressing the sleeves, the hand tool used should be carefully adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the sleeves should be recompressed with the larger axis in the same plane as during the original press.

If new Nicopress sleeves are installed, three presses with the hand tool should be used as recommended by the sleeve manufacturer.

## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A-691](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-691): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 7 of 7 models: J3C-65 (Army L-4; L-4A; L-4B (Navy NE-1); L-4H; L-4J (Navy NE-2)), PA-11, J3C-40, PA-11S, J3C-65S, J3C-50, J3C-50S
- [TCDS A-780](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-780): FS 2003 Corp.; names 2 of 2 models: PA-12S, PA-12

## 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: 1,734 (1,734 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 1,731, Piper / Harris 1, Piper-Carter 1, Piper-Smith 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 1,242 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11): 439 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper J3C-65S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65s): 27 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper J3C-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-50): 13 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-12S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12s): 5 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-11S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11s): 4 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper J3C-50S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-50s): 1 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 11 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/50-05-01/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/50-05-01/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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