# AD 65-11-04: Stabilator Control System

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-24-250, PA-24-260, PA-24-400 and PA-30
- Effective: May 15, 1965
- Published: May 14, 1965
- Issued: May 10, 1965
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-66
- Registered aircraft: 2,765 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/C65384B06903BB83862569970058059C.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/65-11-04

## The airworthiness directive

65-11-04 PIPER: Amdt. 39-66 Part 39 Federal Register May 14, 1965. Applies to Models PA-24-250, PA-24-260, PA-24-400, and PA-30 Aircraft Equipped with a Mitchell Altimatic II Autopilot.

Compliance required within the next 25 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent further jamming of the stabilator control system by the autopilot pitch servo breakaway ball link, accomplish the following:

  (a) On autopilots with pitch servos, Mitchell P/N 1X312C, having serial numbers listed on page 2 of Mitchell Service Information Bulletin No. A55, dated March 23, 1965, install pitch servo rack, Mitchell P/N 44A75-1, and spacer, Mitchell P/N 43A284 or Piper P/N 25422, in accordance with the accomplishment instructions in that Service Bulletin, or later FAA-approved revision, or an FAA-approved equivalent. Attach spacer using AN510-10R16 screws, AN960-10 washers, and MS20365-1032C nuts, or FAA-approved equivalents.

  (b) Install a fairlead in the fuselage in accordance with the sketch in Piper Service Bulletin No. 224, dated April 7, 1965, or later FAA-approved revision, or an FAA-approved equivalent.

This directive effective May 15, 1965.

## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 1A15](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A15): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 3 of 4 models: PA-24-260, PA-24-250, PA-24-400
- [TCDS A1EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A1EA): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 3 models: PA-30

## 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: 2,765 (2,765 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 2,765

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 1,222 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 878 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260): 590 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400): 75 aircraft (airframe model)

All 4 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/65-11-04/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/65-11-04/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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