FAA issues AD on Piper PA–28 fuel selector cover placards
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) affecting numerous Piper PA–28 series single-engine aircraft, requiring inspection of the fuel tank selector cover to verify that the left and right fuel tank selector placards are positioned properly, and replacing those found not to conform.
The AD takes effect Feb. 7, and affects 17,957 airplanes of U.S. registry, the FAA said, estimating the cost of each inspection at $42.50, and the cost of any required placard installation at $51.76.
If improper installation of the left and right fuel selector placards is found during the inspection, fabrication and installation of temporary left and right fuel selector placards is required before further flight, in accordance with the AD, or the specified permanent placards may be installed.
Within the next 100 hours’ time-in-service after Feb. 7, the temporary placard must be replaced with permanent left and right fuel selector placards, the AD says.
AOPA reported in May 2017 that the FAA had circulated an airworthiness concern sheet advising operators of the problem and requesting reports of any nonconforming fuel selector cover placards.
In issuing the AD, the FAA noted that it had “evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.”
The FAA will accept comments on the AD by March 9 online or by mail to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Please include docket number FAA-2018-0015 and Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD at the beginning of your comments.
