AD 98-08-18 63 FR 18308

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 79-01- 04, which currently requires repetitively inspecting the elevator bungee spring for cracks or surface deformities on certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (known currently as The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.) Model PA-31-350 airplanes, and replacing any elevator bungee spring with cracks or surface deformities. This AD retains the repetitive inspection and replacement requirements from AD 79-01-04 on The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-31-350 airplanes until an elevator bungee spring of improved design is installed, and requires these repetitive inspection and replacement requirements on certain other Piper PA-31 and PA-31P series airplanes not affected by AD 79-01- 04. This AD also requires replacing the elevator bungee link with a link of improved design on all affected airplanes except for the Piper Model PA-31P airplanes, and repetitively replacing the elevator bungee spring on all affected airplanes. This AD results from reports of cracked elevator bungee springs on airplanes incorporating the older design elevator bungee spring that are not affected by AD 79-01-04, and by reports of cracked elevator bungee springs on airplanes that have improved design elevator bungee springs installed. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the elevator bungee spring, which could result in a reduction in elevator control and consequent loss of control of the airplane.