# AD 80-02-15: Elevator Butt Rib Cracks

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Historical
- Products: Piper Aircraft, Inc., The New PA-31P, PA-31T and PA-31T1
- Effective: January 29, 1980
- Superseded by: [AD 2001-06-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2001-06-01)
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-3676
- Registered aircraft: 191 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/BD976996A02A6FCD8625699E007692D2.0001
- DRS record last changed: August 7, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-02-15

## The airworthiness directive

80-02-15 PIPER: Amendment 39-3676. Applies to Model PA-31P, Serial Nos. 31P-1 thru 31P-7730012, Model PA-31T, Serial Nos. 31T-7400002 thru 31T-7920075 and Model PA- 31T1, Serial Nos. 31T-7804001 thru 31T-7904036 and 31T-7904038 thru 31T-79O4044 certificated in all categories except aircraft incorporating Piper Kit No. 763 943.

To prevent possible hazards in flight associated with cracks in the elevator butt ribs and adjoining area accomplish the following:

a. Within the next 100 hours in service from the effective date of this AD or upon the attainment of 400 hours in service, whichever is later, inspect and alter the elevators in accordance with Piper Kit No. 763 943 or equivalent.

b. Equivalent inspections or alterations must be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region.

c. Upon submission of substantiating data by an owner or operator through an FAA Maintenance Inspector, the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region may adjust the inspection intervals specified in this AD.

(Piper Service Bulletin No. 658 dated July 31, 1979, refers to this subject.)

This amendment is effective January 29, 1980.

## 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 3 of 6 models: PA-31T, PA-31T1, PA-31P

## 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: 191 (191 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 191

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t): 87 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-31T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t1): 64 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p): 40 aircraft (airframe model)

All 3 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-02-15/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-02-15/aircraft.md

## Related documents

- [AD 2001-06-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2001-06-01): Elevator Structure · Piper PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325 and 7 more. Effective May 8, 2001. Supersedes this AD

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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