# AD 83-10-01: Water and Fuel System Inspection - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Piper PA-24-400, PA-30 and PA-39 - Effective: June 15, 1983 - Published: May 16, 1983 - Issued: May 5, 1983 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-4649 - Registered aircraft: 1,035 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/E76A2A7519E15500862569A6005C9348.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/83-10-01 ## The airworthiness directive 83-10-01 PIPER: Amendment 39-4649. Applies to Models PA-24-400 (S/Ns 26-2 through 26-148); PA-30 (S/Ns 30-2 through 30-2000); and PA-39 (S/Ns 39-1 through 39-155) airplanes certificated in any category. Compliance: Required as indicated, unless already accomplished. To prevent retention of water contamination and deterioration of the fuel system, accomplish the following: (A) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD and at intervals not exceeding 50 hours time-in-service thereafter, clean and inspect the fuel selector valve strainer filter on all airplanes listed in the applicability statement for water accumulation, contamination, and corrosion of the fuel strainer filter components in accordance with the following procedures: (1) Gain access to the fuel strainer installation by removing the floor panel in the center section of the fuselage (PA-30, PA-39) or between the two front seats (PA-24-400). (2) Remove, drain,and clean fuel strainer housing and filter discs in accordance with the following procedures: a. Separate filter housing from selector valve assembly by removing attaching screws. b. Remove the filter disc assembly from stem by compressing filter retainer spring and removing retainer washer. c. In the event that contamination is found, flush fuel tanks and selector valves and clean filter assemblies using the following procedures: (i) Plug open ends of filter disc to prevent disc dirt from entering. (ii) Wash the disc with suitable cleaner or solvent. Heavy dirt, lint, or dust deposits may be removed from disc with a soft bristle paint brush. (iii) Drain or blow off cleaning fluid and remove plugs. (iv) Inspect bowl gasket and disc filter for damage and replace if necessary. (B) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, replace the existing fuel selector strainer filter housing on the ModelPA-30 (S/Ns 30-2 through 30-1744) airplanes with Piper P/N 757187 conical-shaped stainless steel strainer housing in accordance with Piper Service Letter No. 589, dated August 18, 1971. NOTE: This may have been previously accomplished per Piper Service Spares Letter No. SP-289 or Service Letter No. 589. (C) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, fabricate and install a permanent placard as described below having letters with 1/8 inch minimum height on the inside of the hinged access door or adjacent location clearly visible to the pilot during his preflight check. (1) On Model PA-24-400 airplanes the placard must read as follows: "THE FUEL SYSTEM SHALL BE DRAINED DAILY PRIOR TO FIRST FLIGHT AND AFTER REFUELING TO AVOID THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER OR SEDIMENT USING THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES: a. Move the quick drain valve handle to full aft position to open the strainer quick drain for a few seconds with the fuel cell selector on each cell, including the auxiliary tanks. Allow enough fuel to flow to clear lines as well as the strainer. Positive fuel flow shut-off can be observed through the clear plastic tube. b. Ensure that the drain valve positively closes. c. If it is not possible to observe fuel draining through the clear plastic tube because of a loss in its transparency, replace with a new tube. CAUTION: When draining any amount of fuel, care should be taken to ensure that no fire hazard exists before starting engine." (2) On Model PA-30 and PA-39 airplanes, the placard must read as follows: "THE FUEL SYSTEM SHALL BE DRAINED DAILY PRIOR TO FIRST FLIGHT AND AFTER REFUELING TO AVOID THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER OR SEDIMENT USING THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES: a. Pull up on the knob located in the center of the selector valves to open the strainer quick drain for a few seconds with the fuel tank selector on the main tank, then change the tank selector to each auxiliary tank and repeat the process. Allow enough fuel to flow to clear the lines as well as the strainer. Positive fuel flow shut-off can be observed through the clear plastic tube which carries the fuel overboard. b. Ensure that the drain valve positively closes. c. If it is not possible to observe fuel draining through the clear plastic tube because of a loss in its transparency, replace with a new tube. CAUTION: When draining any amount of fuel, care should be taken to ensure that no fire hazard exists before starting engine." (D) If insufficient space is available to contain placards with the above information, the following placard may be substituted. "BEFORE THE FIRST FLIGHT OF EACH DAY AND AFTER REFUELING DRAIN THE FUEL SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH PIPER SERVICE LETTER 851 PART B, ITEM 2.a. and 2.b. (E) The fabrication and installation of the placards required by paragraph (C) or (D) of this AD may be accomplished bythe owner/operator of the airplane who must make an entry in the Airplane Maintenance Record indicating compliance with paragraph (C) or (D) of the AD. (F) The intervals between repetitive inspections required by this AD may be adjusted up to 10 hours time-in-service to allow them to be accomplished concurrent with other scheduled maintenance on the airplane. (G) Airplanes may be flown in accordance with FAR 21.197 to a location where this AD may be accomplished. (H) An equivalent method of compliance with this AD may be used when approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, Federal Aviation Administration, ANE-170, 181 South Franklin Avenue, Room 202, Valley Stream, New York 11581. This amendment becomes effective on June 15, 1983. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A1EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A1EA): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 3 models: PA-30, PA-39 - [TCDS 1A15](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A15): Piper Aircraft Inc.; names 1 of 4 models: PA-24-400 ## 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: 1,035 (1,035 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Piper 1,035 Models with the most aircraft: - [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 878 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39): 82 aircraft (airframe model) - [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400): 75 aircraft (airframe model) All 3 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/83-10-01/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/83-10-01/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. ## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (4) 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 ERA15FA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA378), Sep 30, 2015: Piper PA 30 (N21ND), St. Petersburg, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain single-engine minimum controllable airspeed following a loss of right engine power during initial climb. Also causal was the loss of right engine power for reasons… - [NTSB WPR13FA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA281), Jun 22, 2013: Piper PA-30 (N830SS), Idaho Falls, ID, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of power to the right engine during the initial climb due to fuel contamination and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB CHI02FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA215), Jul 25, 2002: Piper PA-30 (N8563Y), Marble Hill, MO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The solid fuel system contamination resulting in a loss of engine power. The inadequate emergency procedures, and the airspeed not maintained by the pilot were additional causes. - [NTSB IAD98FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98FA042), Apr 5, 1998: Piper PA-30 (N7845Y), Mcmechen, WV, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion during takeoff. --- 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.