Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA31, PA31P, PA31T, and PA42 Series Airplanes

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This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA31, PA31P, PA31T, and PA42 series airplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting for cracks beneath and in the area of the inboard aileron hinge bracket on the aileron spar and rib using dye penetrant methods, replacing any cracked aileron spar or rib, and replacing the inboard aileron hinge bracket with a hinge bracket of improved design. Several reports of cracks in the vicinity of the inboard aileron hinge bracket, aileron spar, and aileron rib prompted this proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the aileron caused by cracks in the area of the inboard aileron hinge bracket, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.