Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA-31 Series Airplanes

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 80-26- 05, which currently requires you to repetitively inspect the main landing gear (MLG) inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks on certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA-31 series airplanes. AD 80-26-05 also requires you to replace any cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle with parts of improved design. This AD results from the Federal Aviation Administration's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft and the determination that an improved design MLG inboard door hinge and attachment assembly, when incorporated, will eliminate the need for the currently required repetitive short-interval inspections; however, we have received reports of cracks in the improved design MLG inboard door hinge assemblies on the affected airplanes. This AD retains the current repetitive inspections contained in AD 80-26-05, and requires inspections on the improved design parts. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracked MLG inboard door hinge assemblies. These cracked door hinge assemblies could result in the MLG becoming jammed, with consequent loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.