Piper Cherokee SDRs

The following is derived from maintenance facility submissions to the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports database.

Aviation Safety

Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

Piper PA-28 series aircraft experienced diverse mechanical failures, including a broken throttle cable (leaving the engine at cruise power), broken flap cable strands, and multiple nose gear component malfunctions.
Structural integrity issues were reported, such as a severely corroded seat track with failing rivets, a cracked wing channel, and a hidden cracked ELT mounting bracket.
Several incidents point to wear and fatigue, with parts failing after significant operational hours, recurring issues like a repeatedly breaking nose gear bumper, and challenges in aircraft used for flight training.

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Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140

Broken Throttle Cable

During flight, when the pilot attempted to reduce engine power, the throttle cable broke, leaving the engine stuck at cruise power. The mixture control was used overhead the airport to reduce power and land without incident.

Part total time: 5568.0 hours

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140

Corroded Seat Track

The seat track was corroded under the carpet to the point that the rivets holding it to the aircraft were falling out. The aircraft had been stored outside for some time and we think the door seal had leaked in the past, causing water to sit on the seat track.

Part total time: Unknown

Piper PA-28-181 Archer II/III

Cracked Wing Channel

A channel in the right wing was found cracked. Channel is located on lower wing skin extending from root to approximately wing station 48. Cracks were located on the outboard end of the channel around a rivet hole.

Part total time: 1347.0 hours

Piper PA-28-181 Archer II/III

Cracked ELT Mounting Bracket

When the ELT was being removed for inspection, the tech discovered two 2-inch cracks next to the nutplates in the ELT mounting bracket. These cracks can only be seen when the ELT tray is removed.

Aircraft total time: 18, 459 hours

Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III/V

Cracked Nose Gear Bumper

During a scheduled inspection, the rubber bumper on the nose gear retraction stop was found broken. The rubber was split at the point of contact with the retraction drag link. This aircraft has had this part replaced four times during the past 16 months for the same issue.

Part total time: 120.0 hours

Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III/V

Broken Nose Gear Downlock Pin

The instructor declared an emergency when the nose gear safe light failed to illuminate. Inspection revealed the nose gear brace assembly (p/n 67146000) that holds the nose gear down lock assembly (p/n 67150004) broke completely off.

Part total time: Unknown

Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III/V

Broken Flap Cable Strands

The pilot reported he heard and felt a loud “pop” when flaps were deployed to 40 degrees. Inspection revealed half of the strands on the flap cable broke at the turnbuckle swage. The cable was not rubbing anywhere. The aircraft has been a flight trainer since new.

Part total time: 2389.0 hours