Piper aircraft made in the 1940s, like this PA-12, may have a structural problem, according to the NTSB. [Photo: Ahunt]
Key Takeaways:
The NTSB is urging the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive for Piper aircraft rudders built in the 1940s due to potential structural failure.
The problem stems from rudders secured with AISI 1025 steel (Piper part number 40622), which is susceptible to fatigue cracking under normal service conditions.
Multiple incidents have occurred where this material failure led to rudder post fractures, resulting in a significant loss of aircraft control and effectiveness.
The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive to address potential structural failure affecting rudders on Piper models built in the 1940s.
According to the NTSB, the issue concerns rudders secured with a part made from an alloy known as AISI 1025 steel.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
