Summary
This document proposes to revise an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA-31 series airplanes. The earlier NPRM would have superseded AD 80-26-05, which requires you to repetitively inspect the main landing gear (MLG) inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks on the affected airplanes, and requires you to replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle. The earlier NPRM proposed to require you to inspect the original design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies for cracks; and replace the original design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies with parts of improved design either immediately (cracks) or at a certain time period (no cracks). This supplemental NPRM results from reports of cracks in the improved design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies on the affected airplanes. We are revising the NPRM to propose inspections on the improved design parts as well as the original design parts. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct cracked MLG inboard door hinge assemblies. These cracked door hinge assemblies could result in the MLG becoming jammed with consequent loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.