# AD 71-21-08: Binding of Fuel Selector Handle

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-28-140, PA-28-180, PA-28R-180 and PA-28R-200
- Effective: October 13, 1971
- Published: October 8, 1971
- Issued: September 29, 1971
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-1312
- Registered aircraft: 9,521 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/88D674DFE2DDC204862569990050F352.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/71-21-08

## The airworthiness directive

71-21-08 PIPER: Amdt. 39-1312. Applies to PA-28-140 airplanes Serial Numbers 28- 7125001 through 28-7125666, PA-28-180 airplanes Serial Numbers 28-7105001 through 28- 7105259, PA-28R-180 airplanes, Serial Numbers 28R-180 airplanes, Serial Numbers 28R-7130001 through 28R-7130038, PA-28R-200 airplanes Serial Numbers 28R-7135001 through 28R-7135254.

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

To prevent possible binding of the fuel selector handle accomplish the following:

  (a) Replace fuel selector valve cover Part Number 99180-( ) in accordance with Piper Service Letter 588 dated September 3, 1971, or later approved revision.

  (b) Time intervals for the replacement of the selector valve cover may be adjusted up to a maximum of 10 hours to coincide with aircraft annual or 100 hour scheduled inspections.

This amendment becomes effective October 13, 1971.

## 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 4 of 18 models: PA-28R-180, PA-28-140, PA-28R-200, PA-28-180

## 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: 9,521 (9,521 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 9,521

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-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 1,223 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 536 aircraft (airframe model)

All 4 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/71-21-08/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/71-21-08/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA21LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA081), Dec 18, 2020: Piper PA28 (N6978W), Tampa, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the student pilot inadvertently moving the fuel selector to the OFF position.
- [NTSB CEN19FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA170), Jun 14, 2019: Piper PA28 (N9754J), Huntsville, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power as a result of the pilot's inadvertent placement of the fuel selector to the "off" position.

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