# AD 51-27-03: Nose Wheel Drain

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-22
- Published: December 4, 1956
- Issued: December 4, 1956
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Registered aircraft: 277 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/63533378A858826F8625698B00764422.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/51-27-03

## The airworthiness directive

51-27-03 PIPER: Applies to All Model PA-22 Aircraft, Serial Numbers 22-1 Through 22-354.

Compliance should be made before next flight in freezing temperature, but not later than December 15, 1951.

Driving rain or washing may cause an accumulation of water in nose wheel oleo housing which can freeze in lower bearing and render rudder system inoperative. To provide drainage, locate a 3/16-inch hole on aft side of nose wheel oleo housing, P/N 13035, centered 9/16-inch above lower edge of housing. Unless oleo strut is removed from housing, use extreme care not to damage oleo strut while drilling drain hole. Insure strut is drained. Fill upper end of housing and upper bearing area with generous amount of cup grease to seal against water.

(Piper Service Bulletin No. 119, dated November 7, 1951, covers this same subject.)

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 1A6](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A6): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 8 models: PA-22

## 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: 277 (277 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 277

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22): 277 aircraft (airframe model)

All 1 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/51-27-03/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/51-27-03/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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