Piper rudder post information
Begin forwarded message:
Date: February 8, 2022 at 10:55:30 PM CST
Subject: "NTSB-Structural Failure of Piper Rudder Posts" - FAASafety.gov
FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education
NTSB-Structural Failure of Piper Rudder Posts
Notice Number: NOTC2252
NTSB recently issued an Aviation Investigation Report AIR-22-02 highlighting an urgent safety issue involving Piper part number 40622 rudder posts made of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel, which our investigations have found to fracture due to fatigue.
Select this link to view Aviation Investigation Report AIR-22-02:
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2022/Feb/AIR2202.pdf
In this AIR, we called on the Federal Aviation Administration to issue an airworthiness directive that describes the safety risk associated with the continued use of this part and require owners and operators to address the unsafe condition, such as by replacing them with rudders equipped with a post made of AISI 4130 low-alloy steel or its equivalent.
What You Should Know
We developed this report and recommendation as a result of investigations into two accidents both occurring in Anchorage, Alaska--ANC20LA059 on June 8, 2020, and ANC21LA064, on July 23, 2021--involving airplanes, designed and built by Piper Aircraft Inc., that sustained substantial damage when their rudders structurally failed in flight. In both cases, the airplanes were being operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flights. The NTSB also examined three additional similarly fractured rudders.
What You Can Do
We encourage all owners, mechanics, and operators to read our Aviation Investigation Report and be aware that posts made of AISI 1025 carbon steel in Piper Aircraft Inc. part number 40622 rudders are susceptible to fatigue cracking under normal service conditions. Recently documented structural failures of these rudders indicate a serious hazard to flight safety that warrants action.
Recent publications are available in their entirety on the NTSB website. Other information about available publications also may be obtained from the website or by contacting—
National Transportation Safety Board
Records Management Division, CIO-40
490 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594
(800) 877-6799 or (202) 314-6551
Scott Sherer
Wright Brothers Master Pilot, FAA Commercial Pilot