AD/M20/17 Amdt 1 - Elevator Trim Tubes

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which governs the mandatory compliance requirements for aircraft operating in Australian airspace. One such directive, AD/M20/17 Amendment 1, pertains to elevator trim tubes in Mooney M20 series aeroplanes, addressing issues identified in certain models with specific serial numbers. The directive was enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating inspections and actions in accordance with Aerostar Service Bulletin M20-185, and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service following 31 October 1972. This amendment, effective from 12 October 1995, refines the applicability to only those aircraft with the identified serial numbers, thereby ensuring that only those aeroplanes utilising nylon grommet bearings in the trim tube support structure are subject to the directive. The enacting body responsible for these regulations is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which operates under the authority of the Australian Government to ensure compliance with safety standards in civil aviation. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance the safety of Mooney M20 series aeroplanes by requiring specific maintenance actions to prevent potential issues arising from the use of nylon grommet bearings in the elevator trim tubes, thereby maintaining the overall safety and airworthiness of these aircraft in the Australian aviation environment.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) regulations under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the airworthiness directives for aircraft such as the Mooney M20 series aeroplanes. These directives are designed to ensure the safety and airworthiness of specific aircraft models. In this case, AD/M20/17 Amendment 1 pertains to elevator trim tubes and applies exclusively to M20 models with particular serial numbers as outlined in the Requirement Document. The requirement necessitates compliance with Aerostar Service Bulletin M20-185. The compliance deadline mandates that the specified action be undertaken within 100 hours of time in service after 31 October 1972. This amendment, effective from 12 October 1995, narrows the applicability to only those aircraft affected, addressing the initial manufacturer's advisory regarding aircraft utilising nylon grommet bearings in the trim tube support structure. The authority of CASA extends to enforce these directives, ensuring adherence to safety standards across the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically addressing Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes, are detailed in AD/M20/17 Amendment 1, which pertains to elevator trim tubes. This amendment, effective from 12 October 1995, applies to M20 models with specific serial numbers listed in the Requirement Document (section 1). The requirement outlined in this directive mandates action in accordance with Aerostar Service Bulletin M20-185, which involves inspecting and possibly replacing the trim tube support structure if it includes nylon grommet bearings (section 2). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 31 October 1972 (section 3). The obligations and requirements imposed by this directive on the parties or entities it governs are stringent. Operators of Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the specified inspection and action, as per Aerostar Service Bulletin M20-185, are completed within the stipulated timeframe (section 4). This involves detailed checks of the elevator trim tubes and support structures to verify the integrity of the nylon grommet bearings. The directive also mandates that all necessary documentation and records related to the compliance activities be maintained accurately and made available for review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority upon request (section 5). Any failure to comply with the requirements of AD/M20/17 Amendment 1 may result in serious legal and operational consequences. Specifically, non-compliance with the directive could lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. Additionally, operators may face civil penalties for each instance of non-compliance, with maximum penalties outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations. For serious violations, there may also be criminal implications, resulting in fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach (section 6). The specific penalties are defined in the broader context of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and related regulations, which provide for stringent enforcement mechanisms to ensure aviation safety standards are upheld.