# AD 70-18-05: Landing Gear Torque Link Bolts

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28-235, PA-32-260 and PA-32-300
- Effective: September 7, 1970
- Published: September 5, 1970
- Issued: August 27, 1970
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-1076
- Registered aircraft: 10,640 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/5EDABBD2FA78B8198625699700582A08.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-18-05

## The airworthiness directive

70-18-05 PIPER: Amendment 39-1076. Applies to the following models: PA-28-140, /- 150, /-160, /-180, /-235, and PA-32-260, /-300. The following are affected serial numbers: PA- 28-140, 28-20001 through 28-22354; PA-28-150, /-160, /-180, 28-1 through 28-3782; PA-28-235, 28-10001 through 28-10806; PA-32-260, 32-1 through 32-853; PA-32-300, 32-40001 through 32-40057.

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

To preclude the possibility of failure of the main landing gear torque link bolts accomplish the following:

The bolt and lock nut attaching the upper torque link to the main landing gear housing assembly must be replaced with an AN5-23 bolt, AN310-C5 nut, and AN381-2-8 cotter pin. The bolt and lock nut attaching the lower torque link to the main landing gear housing assembly must be replaced with an AN5-22 bolt, AN310-C5 nut, and AN381-2-8 cotter pin. The bolt or grease boltand lock nut attaching the torque links at the scissor joint must be replaced with a grease bolt, Piper part number 65788-00, (hole in threaded end of bolt for cotter pin safety), AN944-101 lubricator fitting, AN 310-C5 nut, AN381-2-8 cotter pin, and appropriate washers. Piper Kit 757-123 contains the necessary hardware and instructions to accomplish this modification. Equivalent replacement parts approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA Southern Region, may be used.

Piper Service Bulletin No. 248 dated 12 May 1967 pertains to this same subject.

This amendment becomes effective 7 September 1970.

## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 2A13](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2A13): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 5 of 18 models: PA-28-150, PA-28-140, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28-235
- [TCDS A3SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A3SO): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 13 models: PA-32-300, PA-32-260

## 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: 10,640 (10,640 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 10,639, Piper/Valdes-Ervin 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 4,258 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 3,504 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 992 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235): 859 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260): 650 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160): 253 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150): 123 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper/Valdes-Ervin PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-valdes-ervin-pa-28-235): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 8 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-18-05/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-18-05/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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