AD/PA-31/82 - Rudder and Aileron Trim Tab Attachment - Inspection - CANCELLED

What this is: A cancellation of an old aircraft safety inspection rule for specific light aircraft.

Who it affects: Owners and operators of Piper PA-31 series aeroplanes (twin-engine planes like the Navajo).

What it does: Removes a requirement to inspect the rudder and aileron trim tabs — small adjustable surfaces on the tail and wings that help keep the aircraft flying straight and level. The original rule (issued in 1979) required a one-time inspection of these tabs to check for attachment problems, following the manufacturer's Service Bulletin No. 659, within 25 flight hours after August 1979.

Why it matters: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority cancelled this directive on 31 July 2008 because every affected aircraft would have completed the inspection decades earlier. If you operate a Piper PA-31, you no longer need to track or comply with this specific maintenance requirement; the safety issue was resolved long ago.