# AD 72-22-05: Operation Limitation Placard - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Piper PA-24, PA-24-250 and PA-24-260 - Effective: December 26, 1974 - Published: December 18, 1974 - Issued: December 11, 1974 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-2052 - Registered aircraft: 2,157 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/883502D86C1B82E386256E1200498AC9.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-22-05 ## The airworthiness directive 72-22-05 PIPER: Amendment 39-1545 as amended by Amendment 39-2052. Applies to PA-24, PA-24-250 and PA-24-260 airplanes certificated in all categories. To prevent possible adverse airplane vibration effects, accomplish the following: 1. Within the next 10 hours in service after the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive, unless already accomplished, attach the following operating limitation placard near the airspeed indicator in full view of the pilot: a. For PA-24 type airplanes, "Do not exceed 188 mph cas (Vne)". b. For PA-24-250 and PA-24-260 type airplanes, "Max. structural cruising: 167 mph cas (Vno). Do not exceed 188 mph cas (Vne)." 2. Within three (3) months after the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive, accomplish either: a. An alteration of the red radial Vne line and the cautionary yellow arc of the airspeed indicator to reflect the airspeeds noted in 1. above in accordance with an FAA-approved alteration; or b. An alteration of the rudder in accordance with Piper Service Kit No. 760705 or an FAA-approved equivalent alteration and an alteration of the airspeed instrument in accordance with an FAA-approved alteration to reflect the following speed restrictions: Vne of 202 mph (cas) for PA-24; of 203 mph (cas) for PA-24-250 and PA-24-260 Vno of 180 mph (cas) for PA-24-250 and PA-24-260. 3. For PA-24-250 and PA-24-260 type airplanes, a Vne of 227 mph (CAS) may be used upon altering the stabilator in accordance with Piper Service Kit No. 760747, or an approved equivalent, and by altering the rudder as in paragraph 2(b) above. (Piper Service Bulletin No. 687, dated June 19, 1974, refers to this subject.) 4. FAA approved alterations must be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region. Amendment 39-1545 was effective October 31, 1972. This amendment 39-2052 is effective December 26, 1974. ## Affected data sheets (1) (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, PA-24-260, PA-24-250 ## 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: 2,157 (2,157 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 2,157 Models with the most aircraft: - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 1,222 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260): 590 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24): 345 aircraft (airframe model) All 3 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-22-05/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-22-05/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. ## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (1) 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 ERA09FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA029), Oct 24, 2008: Piper PA-24 (N8820P), Red Hill, VA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in… --- 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.