Airworthiness Directives; the New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, and PA-E23-250 Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, and PA-E23-250 airplanes that do not incorporate a certain design flap control torque tube or torque tube assembly. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the flap control torque tube for cracks, corrosion, wear, or elongation of the attachment bolt holes (referred to as damage); and requires you to replace any damaged torque tube with either an improved design flap control torque tube or flap control torque tube assembly. The repetitive inspections will no longer be necessary when the improved design torque tube or torque tube assembly is installed. This AD is the result of several reports of damage found in the flap control torque tube on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct damage to the flap control torque tube, which could result in failure of the flap operating system. If such failure occurred during landing or takeoff, then a split flap condition could occur with potential loss of control of the airplane.