# AD 78-23-01: Fuel Drain Assembly - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Piper PA-28-235, PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32RT-300, PA-32RT-300T and PA-32S-300 - Effective: November 3, 1978 - Published: November 2, 1978 - Issued: October 20, 1978 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-3330 - Registered aircraft: 3,419 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/6258C170910EDB298625699E004AE238.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-23-01 ## The airworthiness directive 78-23-01 PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-3330. Applies to Models PA-28-235, PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32S-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32RT-300 and PA- 32RT-300T airplanes, certificated in all categories. Compliance is required as indicated. To prevent inadvertent fuel drain lever actuation, accomplish the following: (a) On Model PA-28-235 serial numbers 28-10003 through 28-10660, accomplish the following: (1) Within the next 50 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, remove the fuel drain lever cover assembly Piper Part Number 65196-05, -06, or -07. (2) Remove snap studs from spar box if installed. (3) Using existing stud holes in spar box, install new drain cover assembly, Piper Kit 763 883V. (4) Actuate fuel drain valve handle and insure adequate clearance between the handle and cover assembly. (5) Make appropriate maintenance record entry. (b) On Models PA-28-235, PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32S-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32RT-300, and PA-32RT-300T, all serial numbers, accomplish the following: (1) For airplanes with 300 hours or more time in service, within the next 50 hours time in service from the effective date of this AD, and at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service from the last check, check the fuel drain lever cover assembly door to determine whether the door freely opens and closes freely without manual assistance and prevents actuation of the lever when the door is in the closed position. (2) If the door does not open and close freely or if the door does not prevent access to the lever when it is in the closed position, replace the fuel drain lever cover assembly with a serviceable assembly, and make the appropriate maintenance record entry. (3) If the door opens and closes freely and prevents access to the lever when it is in the closed position, make the appropriate maintenance record entry. (c) An alternate method of compliance may be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Southern Region. The checks in this AD may be accomplished by the pilot and appropriate maintenance record entries made in accordance with FAR 91.173. Replacement must be accomplished by a person authorized by FAR 43.3. (Piper Service Letter 856 dated September 15, 1978, pertains to paragraph (a).) This amendment becomes effective November 3, 1978. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A3SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A3SO): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 6 of 13 models: PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32-260, PA-32RT-300, PA-32S-300, PA-32RT-300T - [TCDS 2A13](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2A13): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 18 models: PA-28-235 ## 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: 3,419 (3,419 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 3,418, Piper/Valdes-Ervin 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 992 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-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 510 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t): 204 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300): 200 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-32S-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32s-300): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper/Valdes-Ervin PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-valdes-ervin-pa-28-235): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 8 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-23-01/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-23-01/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 WPR12LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA315), Jul 20, 2012: Piper PA-32S-300 (N5212S), Adelanto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff, which was aborted due to fuel starvation as a result of an inadvertent in-flight activation of the fuel drain… --- 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.