AD Proposed for Pawnee Wing Spar Cracks and Corrosion – Your Feedback Requested

The FAA has proposed adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all LAVIA ARGENTINA S.A. (LAVIASA) Model PA-25, PA-25-235, and PA-25-260 airplanes. LAVIASA is the current holder of the Type Certificate for all PA-25 variants which was previously held by Piper. This proposed AD applies to all serial numbers and thus affects all PA-25 models produced by Piper as well. 

In December 2024, Argentina’s equivalent to the FAA issued an airworthiness directive (ANAC Argentina AD 2024-05-01 R1) in response to reports of corrosion found in the front and rear wing spars and cracks found in the front wing spar. In addition, cracks were found in holes that were drilled to fix the leading edges, which could propagate towards the spar web. 

The Argentina AD requires doing repetitive inspections of the front and rear wing spars for corrosion and crack(s) and the front wing spar for alteration(s) (change of leading edge, repairs, non-approved perforations) and crack(s); repairing or replacing front and rear wing spars if crack(s), corrosion, or alteration(s) are found. 

LAVIASA Service Bulletin No. 25-57-09, REV 0, dated November 27, 2023, specifies procedures for inspecting the lower wing surface for inspection covers and installing inspection holes and covers as applicable, inspecting the forward and aft wing spars for corrosion and crack(s), and ensuring the drain holes are in the correct position and free from any obstruction(s). 

LAVIASA Service Bulletin No. 25-57-11, Rev 00, dated August 23, 2024, specifies procedures for installing rectangular inspection doors near the forward wing spar, verifying the location of the screws on the upper and lower T flanges, inspecting to determine if there are more than four holes between ribs on the leading edge tabs, inspecting for crack(s) near the bore holes, doing a borescope inspection of inside surface of the T-flange for crack(s) and if any crack(s) are found uncovering the complete wing and doing a detailed inspection of the wing spar. 

FAA’s proposed AD would require compliance with the above Service Bulletins. The initial compliance time is based on spar time, whether/when spars have been replaced, and whether/when alterations have been made to the spars. Thereafter, every 100 hours time-in-service, inspect the lower wing surface for inspection covers and install inspection holes and covers as applicable, inspect the front and rear wing spars for corrosion and crack(s), and ensure the drain holes are in the correct position and free from any obstruction(s). In addition, inspect the upper/lower spar flange of the front wing spar for any crack(s), evidence of overlapping, enlarged holes, or more than four holes found, and at least two of them are less than one inch away from each other, paying particular attention to the leading-edge fitting area. Any cracks or corrosion found will require spar replacement. 

You can view the proposed AD and submit comments here. Comments are due January 2, 2026.  

If your operation would be impacted by this AD as proposed, and you have data/information which would contradict the applicability and/or required actions within it, please contact Matt Gill at NAAA.