# AD 52-07-03: Lift Strut Rework - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Piper J-3, J3C-40, J3C-50, J3C-50S, J3C-65S, J3F-50, J3F-50S, J3F-60, J3F-60S, J3F-65 (Army L-4D), J3F-65S, J3L and 6 more - Published: December 4, 1956 - Issued: December 4, 1956 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Registered aircraft: 952 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/62D1591757744E958625698B007644B8.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-07-03 ## The airworthiness directive 52-07-03 PIPER: Applies to All Models J3 Series and PA-11 Aircraft. Compliance required prior to November 1, 1952. 1. Revise the present front and rear wing lift strut as follows: (a) Cut 1/8 inch from lower end of barrel assembly and strut end. (b) Remove the flanges and weld metal which extends through upper and lower strut surface, taking care not to damage struts. (c) Remove barrel assembly from strut by applying a slight pull through an old forked fitting. (d) Inspect strut for (internal) rust, bending, excessive wear, or other damage, and replace strut if necessary. (e) Clean surplus old weld or rough edges from slots in the strut ends. (f) Increase depth of these slots (approximately 1/8 inch) so the new barrel's lower flange will extend 3/32 inch beyond the strut end. (g) Insert new plate and barrel assembly, P/N 12521, with its centerline parallel with the centerline of the strut. (h) Weld fitting into strut aroundthe slots and lower strut end. (i) Refinish strut. (j) Install new forked fitting, P/N 13710 and AN 315-7R locknut. (k) Due to the importance of this rework, care must be exercised and it is recommended that only competent welders with extensive recent welding experience should undertake this work. 2. After installing reworked lift struts rerig the aircraft in accordance with appropriate Piper Service Manual Instructions. 3. Placard all lift struts, "No step". 4. Compliance with AD 51-15-01, covering the periodic inspection of lower lift strut fork fittings, P/N 11281, may be discontinued after compliance with this airworthiness directive. (Piper Service Bulletin No. 120, dated March 28, 1952, covers this same subject.) ## Affected data sheets (5) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A-691](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-691): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 6 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, J3C-65S, J3C-50, J3C-50S - [TCDS A-692](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-692): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 6 of 6 models: J3F-60S, J3F-50S, J3F-65S, J3F-65 (Army L-4D), J3F-50, J3F-60 - [TCDS A-698](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-698): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 4 of 4 models: J3L-65S, J3L, J3L-S, J3L-65 (Army L-4C) - [TCDS ATC 660](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/ATC%20660): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 1 models: J-3 - [TCDS TC 695](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/TC%20695): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 1 models: J3P ## 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: 952 (952 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 944, Piper-Dahl 2, Piper / Harris 1, Piper Whitaker 1, Piper-Carter 1, Piper-Ford 1, Piper-Green-Lewis 1, Piper-Smith 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11): 439 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3L-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65): 179 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65): 127 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j-3): 104 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3C-65S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65s): 27 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3F-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-50): 22 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3L](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l): 15 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3C-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-50): 13 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3F-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-60): 13 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3p): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper-Dahl J-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-dahl-j-3): 2 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper-Ford J3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-ford-j3): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3C-50S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-50s): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper Whitaker J3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-whitaker-j3): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper-Green-Lewis J-3 CUBY](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-green-lewis-j-3-cuby): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper J3L-65S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65s): 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 20 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-07-03/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-07-03/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.