# AD 77-23-03: Rod End Bearings - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Piper PA-28-140, PA-28-151, PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-181, PA-28-235, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-201, PA-28R-201T, PA-32-260, PA-32-300 and 3 more - Effective: November 14, 1977 - Published: November 10, 1977 - Issued: October 27, 1977 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-3071 - Registered aircraft: 20,055 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/01D3A409D2A27AA58625699D004F64A4.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/77-23-03 ## The airworthiness directive 77-23-03 PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-3071. Applies to Model PA-28-140 serial numbers 28-25001 through 28-7725172; Model PA-28-151 serial numbers 28-7415001 through 28-7615435; Model PA-28-161 serial numbers 28-7716001 through 28-7716071; Model PA-28-180 serial numbers 28-5153 through 28-7505260; Model PA-28-181 serial numbers 28-7690001 through 28-7790363; Model PA-28-235 serial numbers 28-7310001 through 28-7710016; Model PA-28R-180 serial numbers 28R-30737 through 28R-7130013; Model PA-28R-200 serial numbers 28R-35001 through 28R-7635512; Model PA-28R-201 serial numbers 28R-7737001 through 28R-7737023; Model PA-28R-201T serial numbers 28R-7703001 through 28R-7703043; Model PA-32-260 serial numbers 32-1111 through 32-7700013; Model PA-32-300 serial numbers 32-40566 through 32-7740040; Model PA-32R-300 serial numbers 32R-6780001 through 32R-7780215; Model PA-34-200 serial numbers 34-7250001 through 34-7450220; and Model PA-34-200T serial numbers 34-7570001 through 34-7770163, airplanes certificated in all categories. To prevent a power loss due to thermal contraction binding a control rod end, accomplish the following: (a) Within the next 25 hours time in service after the effective date of this A.D., unless already accomplished, perform the following check: (1) Gain access to the engine by opening or removing the cowling as required to check the engine control rod end bearings in the engine compartment. (2) Check the rod end bearings attached to the Mixture, Throttle, and Prop Governor (if applicable) Control Cables. (Refer to the picture below.) (i) If a rod end bearing, as identified in the figure below as number two (2) (Brass Ball Retainer) or as number three (3) (Silver Ball Retainer) is installed, then no further action is required. Make appropriate log book entry. (ii) If a rod end bearing, as identified in the figure below as number one (1) with a raised ball retainer is installed, have it removed andreplaced with an approved serviceable bearing which is identified in the figure below as number two (2) or number three (3). Refer to the appropriate Piper Service Manual for replacement and rigging instructions. (b) An alternate method of compliance must be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Southern Region. The checks in this A.D. may be accomplished by the pilot and appropriate log book entries made in accordance with FAR 91.173. Replacement and rigging must be accomplished by a person authorized by FAR 43.3. This amendment becomes effective November 14, 1977. ## Affected data sheets (3) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS 2A13](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2A13): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 10 of 18 models: PA-28R-180, PA-28R-201, PA-28-140, PA-28R-201T, PA-28R-200, PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-151… - [TCDS A3SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A3SO): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 3 of 13 models: PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32-260 - [TCDS A7SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A7SO): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 5 models: PA-34-200 (Seneca), PA-34-200T (Seneca II) ## 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: 20,055 (20,055 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 20,023, New Piper 31, 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-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 3,549 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 3,504 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 1,526 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 1,223 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 992 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151): 961 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-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t): 563 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 536 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 510 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t): 368 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201): 352 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200): 172 aircraft (airframe model) - [New Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-28-181): 16 aircraft (airframe model) - [New Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-28-161): 15 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper/Valdes-Ervin PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-valdes-ervin-pa-28-235): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 22 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/77-23-03/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/77-23-03/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 BFO94FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94FA140), Aug 19, 1994: Piper PA-32R-300 (N4316X), Roanoke, VA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE ARM ON THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO. --- 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.