# AD 74-17-04: Fabric Reinforcement - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: FS 2002 PA-14, PA-12, PA-12S, PA-15, PA-16, PA-16S, PA-17, PA-20, PA-20-115, PA-20-135, PA-20S, PA-20S-115 and 9 more - Effective: April 11, 1977 - Published: April 7, 1977 - Issued: March 28, 1977 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-2865 - Registered aircraft: 5,150 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/3CEE8EBCA9FEB8D786256E120049906B.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/74-17-04 ## The airworthiness directive 74-17-04 PIPER: Amendment 39-1919 as amended by Amendment 39-2154 is further amended by Amendment 39-2865. Applies to the following Models which are covered with cotton or linen at the critical area on top of the windshield where the fabric attaches to the channel: PA-12, Serial Numbers 12-2904 and higher, except 12-2907, 12-2911, 12-2914, 12-2915, 12-2917, 12-2925, 12-2950, 12-3028-S and 12-3901 through 12-3903; PA-14; PA-15; PA-16; PA-17; PA-20; and PA-22 airplanes, Serial Numbers 22-1 and up, certificated in all categories. To prevent sudden failure of the fabric at the top of the windshield where the fabric attaches to the channel, accomplish the following: 1. For all airplanes, unless already accomplished, the indicated Piper Kits or equivalent parts approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region, must be installed within the next 25 hours in service after the effective date of this AD on airplanes which have fabric exceeding three years since installation: (a) Kit 760 799 effective on: PA-12, Serial numbers 12-2904 and higher, except 12-2907, 12-2911, 12-2914, 12-2915, 12-2917, 12-2925, 12-2950, 12-3028-S and 12-3901 through 12-3903; all PA-12S and PA-14 airplanes. (b) Kit 754 404 effective on: All PA-15, PA-16, PA-17 and PA-20 and PA-22 Airplane Serial Numbers 22-1 and up. 2. For all airplanes at every 100 hours in service after accomplishment of 1(a) or 1(b), remove the metallic strip and inspect the fabric over the top surface. (a) If no cracks or fraying are found, reinstall the metallic strip. (b) If any cracks or fraying are found, prior to further flight, add a fabric reinforcement strip (pinked-tape) starting from a line formed by the intersection of the windshield and the leading edge of the channel and extending aft at least three inches from the trailing edge of the channel. Reinstall the metallic strip. 3. For all airplanes which have fabric installed within thelast three years, every 100 hours in service after the effective date of this AD, until three years are accumulated, inspect the fabric over the top surface. If any cracks or fraying are found, prior to further flight, install Piper Kits or equivalent parts approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region, as in 1(a) or 1(b) as appropriate. Upon request and appropriate substantiating data submitted through an FAA maintenance inspector, the compliance time specified in this AD may be increased by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region. Piper Service Letter No. 362A pertains to this subject. This AD supersedes AD 61-06-06. Amendment 39-1919 was effective August 16, 1974. Amendment 39-2154 was effective April 9, 1975. This amendment 39-2865 is effective April 11, 1977. ## Affected data sheets (7) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS 1A6](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A6): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 8 of 8 models: PA-22S-135, PA-22S-150, PA-22-108, PA-22-160, PA-22-150, PA-22, PA-22S-160, PA-22-135 - [TCDS 1A4](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A4): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 6 of 6 models: PA-20, PA-20S-135, PA-20-135, PA-20S-115, PA-20-115, PA-20S - [TCDS 1A1](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A1): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 2 models: PA-16, PA-16S - [TCDS A-780](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-780): FS 2003 Corp.; names 2 of 2 models: PA-12S, PA-12 - [TCDS A-797](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-797): FS 2002 Corp.; names 1 of 1 models: PA-14 - [TCDS A-800](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-800): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 1 models: PA-15 - [TCDS A-805](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-805): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 1 models: PA-17 ## 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: 5,150 (5,150 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 5,149, Piper/Pierce Tony 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 1,242 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 1,200 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108): 587 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160): 456 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135): 409 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22): 277 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16): 276 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20): 276 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15): 165 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14): 100 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17): 97 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-20-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20-135): 42 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22S-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22s-150): 8 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-12S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12s): 5 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22S-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22s-135): 4 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-20S-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20s-135): 2 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-20S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20s): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-20-115](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20-115): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper/Pierce Tony PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pierce-tony-pa-22-150): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-22S-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22s-160): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 20 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/74-17-04/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/74-17-04/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 ANC20LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA064), Jul 4, 2020: Piper PA22 (N3604A), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The delamination of the fabric material from the fuselage above the windscreen due to failed adhesive, which resulted in disrupted airflow and a subsequent hard landing. - [NTSB DEN86LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA067), Jan 19, 1986: Piper PA-22-150 (N5950D), Cedar City, UT, substantial damage --- 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.