- Effective
- May 23, 1978
- Published
- May 18, 1978
- Issued
- May 9, 1978
- Models
- AE-1, HE-1, J5A-80, J5A (Army L-4F), J5B (Army L-4G), J5C and 63 more
- Registered aircraft
- 10,029 matched by model
- Product
- Aircraft · Small airplane
- Amendment
- 39-3212
Unofficial copy of the text in the FAA’s Dynamic Regulatory System. The FAA’s own copy is the authoritative one. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.
Copies of the files this page was built from, with their SHA-256. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
| File | Size | SHA-256 | Original |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAA DRS HTML | 21 KB | 555c100f…8fcf1ca | FAA DRS (API key needed) |
On this page
The airworthiness directive
78-10-03 PIPER: Amendment 39-3212. Applies to all J-3, J-4, J-5, PA-11, PA-12, PA-14, PA-16, PA-18, PA-20 and PA-22 type aircraft.
Compliance required within the next 10 hours in service after effective date of this AD unless already accomplished.
In order to prevent inadequate fuel venting, accomplish the following:
(a) Modify fuel caps and inspect fuel tank inlet rubber seal in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 522 dated September 28, 1976, (former AD 77-09-09 Sketch 1) or approved equivalent. AD 78-10-03
(b) Drill 2 additional vent holes .098 inch diameter through locking cam of fuel cap (Sketch 2) in accordance with instructions of Piper Service Bulletin No. 573 dated February 8, 1978, or approved equivalent.
(c) Upon compliance with (b), vibro-etch Part No. 60707-04 as shown in Sketch 2.
(d) Equivalent alterations must be approved by Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA Eastern Region.
(Piper Service Bulletins Nos. 522 and 573 pertain to this subject.)
Amendment 39-3212 cancels AD 77-09-09.
This amendment is effective May 23, 1978.
Affected TCDS · 16
The type certificate data sheets for the models this AD names, matched by model and maker.
Registered aircraft · 10,029
Registered aircraft whose airframe or engine model this AD names. Matched by model only, so check each against the AD’s applicability.
| 1910 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 1931 | 1 |
| 1937 | 1 |
| 1938 | 25 |
| 1939 | 87 |
| 1940 | 282 |
| 1941 | 258 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1943 | 13 |
| 1944 | 2 |
| 1945 | 11 |
| 1946 | 485 |
| 1947 | 785 |
| 1948 | 147 |
| 1949 | 284 |
| 1950 | 259 |
| 1951 | 233 |
| 1952 | 240 |
| 1953 | 428 |
| 1954 | 289 |
| 1955 | 399 |
| 1956 | 460 |
| 1957 | 516 |
| 1958 | 354 |
| 1959 | 327 |
| 1960 | 194 |
| 1961 | 354 |
| 1962 | 130 |
| 1963 | 142 |
| 1964 | 64 |
| 1965 | 59 |
| 1966 | 64 |
| 1967 | 43 |
| 1968 | 71 |
| 1969 | 40 |
| 1970 | 27 |
| 1971 | 34 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1973 | 15 |
| 1974 | 84 |
| 1975 | 94 |
| 1976 | 108 |
| 1977 | 110 |
| 1978 | 101 |
| 1979 | 113 |
| 1980 | 10 |
| 1981 | 38 |
| 1982 | 23 |
| 1983 | 3 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 |
| 1989 | 28 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1994 | 22 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2,063 with no year recorded
By model
See all 82 modelsAircraft
NTSB investigations that cite this AD · 1
Their narratives or probable cause name AD 78-10-03, often to say whether the aircraft complied with it.