# AD 78-08-12: Flap System Operation

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-31T
- Effective: April 26, 1978
- Published: April 24, 1978
- Issued: April 12, 1978
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-3194
- Registered aircraft: 87 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/395EC79AC1AFE3F186256A1C007177F2.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-08-12

## The airworthiness directive

78-08-12 PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-3194. Applies to Piper Aircraft Corporation Model PA-31T certificated in all categories.

To provide additional information on flap system operation, insert the following CAUTION or Piper PA-31T, Revision 12 of December 27, 1977, in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Piper Report 1740 or Revision 4, dated December 9, 1977, to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, Piper Report 2048.

CAUTION

When selecting an "Approach" flap position and the selector is inadvertently moved beyond the "Approach" detent, the selector must be returned to its original position and then back to "Approach" in order to reprogram the selector. Returning the selector to the "Approach" detent without re-programming will return the flaps to their original position.

This amendment is effective April 26, 1978.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A8EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A8EA): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 6 models: PA-31T

## 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: 87 (87 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 87

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t): 87 aircraft (airframe model)

All 1 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-08-12/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-08-12/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

---
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.
