# AD 80-26-04 R1: Rudder Pulley at Cabin Step

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Piper PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250 and PA-23-250 (Navy UO-1)
- Effective: August 28, 1981
- Published: August 27, 1981
- Issued: August 14, 1981
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-4198
- Registered aircraft: 1,267 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/E51465E5F0867FAB862569A6005CD89B.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-26-04-R1

## The airworthiness directive

80-26-04 R1 PIPER: Amendment 39-3992 as amended by Amendment 39-4198. Applies to models:

PA-23, PA-23-160, Serial Nos. 23-1 thru 23-2046; PA-23-235, Serial Nos. 27-505 thru 27-622; PA-23-250, Serial Nos. 27-1 thru 27-504; PA-23-250 (6 Place), Serial Nos. 27-2000 thru 27-8054049 certificated in all categories.

To detect cracks and prevent possible misalignment of the rudder cable-pulley at the fuselage crossmember which supports the cabin entrance step, accomplish the following:

a. For airplanes with 500 or more hours in service on the effective date of this AD, within the next 100 hours in service, inspect the cabin entrance step supporting frame structure for cracks, repair as necessary in accordance with paragraph (c), and unless already accomplished incorporate additional bracketry for the footstep attachment at the rudder pulley in accordance with paragraph (c).

b. For airplanes with less than 500 hours in service on the effective date of this AD, before the accumulation of 600 hours in service, inspect the cabin entrance step supporting frame structure for cracks, repair as necessary in accordance with paragraph (c), and unless already accomplished, incorporate additional bracketry for the footstep attachment at the rudder pulley in accordance with paragraph (c).

c. Accomplish steps 1 through 5 under the "Inspection and Repair Instructions" Section and steps 1 through 9 under "Footstep Reinforcement Brackets Installation Instructions" in Piper Service Bulletin No. 672 dated June 20, 1980, or equivalent.

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

e. Upon submittal 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 compliance times specified in this AD.

NOTE: Since the cabin step is part of the approved type design, it must be in place. This includes those cases where temporary permission was granted for its removal.

Amendment 39-3992 was effective December 19, 1980.

This amendment 39-4198 is effective August 28, 1981.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 1A10](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A10): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 4 of 6 models: PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250 (Navy UO-1), PA-23

## 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: 1,267 (1,267 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Piper 1,267

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250): 894 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160): 188 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23): 155 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-23-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-235): 25 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Piper PA-23-250 (6PCLM)](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250-6pclm): 5 aircraft (airframe model)

All 5 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-26-04-R1/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-26-04-R1/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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