# AD 80-17-02: Elevator Balance Weights

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-31, PA-31-325 and PA-31-350
- Effective: August 8, 1980
- Published: August 11, 1980
- Issued: July 29, 1980
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-3872
- Registered aircraft: 562 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/0EBCEDDC878F9056862569A6005CCF9D.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-17-02

## The airworthiness directive

80-17-02 PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-3872. Applies to the following Piper models of airplanes certificated in all categories: PA-31 and PA-31-325, S/N 31-7401201 through 31-8012076, 31-8012078, and 31-8012079; and PA-31-350, S/N 31-7405401 through 31-8052169 and 31-8052172.

Compliance is required within the next 50 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD unless already accomplished. To ensure flutter integrity of the elevator system, accomplish the following:

  (a) Inspect the elevator balance weights for correct dimensions, and, if necessary, install correct elevator balance weights in accordance with Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 690, dated July 7, 1980, or in an equivalent manner approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Southern Region.

  (b) Revise the part numbers on both elevators in accordance with Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 690, dated July 7, 1980, or in an equivalent manner approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Southern Region.

  (c) Make appropriate maintenance record entry.

This amendment becomes effective August 8, 1980.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A20SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A20SO): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 3 of 4 models: PA-31, PA-31-325, PA-31-350

## 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: 562 (562 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 562

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350): 399 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325): 137 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31): 26 aircraft (airframe model)

All 3 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-17-02/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-17-02/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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