# AD 68-12-04: Gear Retraction Fittings

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-28R-180
- Effective: June 14, 1968
- Published: June 12, 1968
- Issued: June 5, 1968
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-610
- Registered aircraft: 536 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/7555600F431A7151862569970058383C.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-12-04

## The airworthiness directive

68-12-04 PIPER: Amendment 39-610. Applies to Model PA-28R-180 Series Airplanes, Serial Numbers 28-30004 to 28-30358 incl., 28-30361 to 28-30390 incl., 28-30392 to 28-30401 incl., 28-30403 to 28-30416 incl., 28-30418 to 28-30420 incl., 28-30423 to 28-30426 incl., 28- 30428 to 28-30443 incl., 28-30445 to 28-30448 incl., 28-30451 to 28-30457 incl., 28-30459 to 28-30461 incl., 28-30462, 28-30464, 28-30466 to 28-30468 incl., 28-30470, 28-30472, 28-30473, 28-30477 to 28-30483 to 28-30485 incl., 28-30489, 28-30492, 28-30493, 28-30496, 28-30497, 28-30500, 28-30502, 28-30504, 28-30521, 28-30523 and 28-30525.

Compliance required within the next 50 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the gear retraction fittings, which could cause collapse of the main landing gear, accomplish the following:

  (a) Place the aircraft on jacks (to preclude the possibility of the main gear collapsing when retraction fittingsare removed and replaced).

  (b) Remove the existing retraction fittings (part number 67031-00 L.H., and part number 67031-01 R.H.) and replace with part number 67031-02 (L.H.) and part number 67031- 03 (R.H.). Add bushing part number 65003-48 to the retraction fittings and torque to 20-25 inch pounds. Also, replace part number 400 679 Clevis Bolt (AN23-17) with part number 424 181 Clevis Pin (AN393-24), using existing washers. Safety with part number 424 051 Cotter Pin (AN380-2-2).

NOTE: Insure that the turnbuckle is not altered from its original position or it will be necessary to re-rig the gear down lock system.

  (c) Perform retraction test and insure proper operation.

Piper Service Bulletin No. 274, dated June 3, 1968, covers this same subject.

This amendment becomes effective June 14, 1968.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 2A13](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2A13): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 18 models: PA-28R-180

## 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: 536 (536 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 536

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 536 aircraft (airframe model)

All 1 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-12-04/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-12-04/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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