AD/M20/33 - Main Landing Gear Retracting Link Bolt - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide the overarching legal framework for ensuring the safety and regulation of civil aviation in Australia. One of the specific instruments under this overarching legislation is the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive AD/M20/33, which focuses on the replacement of the main landing gear retracting link bolt. This directive was introduced to address identified safety concerns associated with the integrity of the landing gear retracting link bolt in Mooney M20 Series aeroplanes. The problem it was designed to mitigate includes potential failure of the bolt, which could lead to compromised landing gear operation and subsequent safety risks. The policy objective, as articulated within the directive, is to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft by mandating timely replacement of the specified part, thereby enhancing overall flight safety.

Scope and Application

The Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive, as part of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically addresses the safety of Mooney M20F and M20J models through the AD/M20/33 mandate. This directive applies to all Mooney M20F aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 660003 to 22-1439 and all Mooney M20J aircraft with serial numbers from 240001 to 240609. The directive mandates the replacement of the main landing gear retracting link bolt to ensure compliance, which must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service following 31 August 1978, in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-212. The directive is a Commonwealth regulation and thus has national jurisdictional reach within Australia, impacting relevant aviation entities and operators of the specified aircraft models. This directive does not specify exclusions or exemptions, and compliance is mandatory for the affected aircraft to maintain their airworthiness certification.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CARs) in relation to the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes are contained in the Airworthiness Directives (ADs). Specifically, AD/M20/33 mandates the replacement of the main landing gear retracting link bolt on all model M20F aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 660003 to 22-1439, and all model M20J aeroplanes with S/Nos. from 240001 to 240609. This directive must be complied with in accordance with the instructions detailed in Mooney Service Bulletin (SB) M20-212 and within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1978. The obligations imposed by this legislation are primarily on the operators and owners of the specified Mooney M20 series aeroplanes. They must ensure that the main landing gear retracting link bolt is replaced as per the instructions in Mooney SB M20-212 within the prescribed timeframe. Failure to comply with this directive can result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which means it cannot be operated until the required maintenance is performed and approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Operators and owners must also maintain accurate records of compliance to demonstrate adherence to the AD. Breaches of the requirements set forth in the AD/M20/33 can result in serious consequences. Under section 97 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, CASA can impose penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. The penalties for failing to comply with an AD can include fines, with the maximum penalty varying depending on the severity of the breach. In some cases, CASA can also suspend or cancel the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, effectively grounding the aeroplane until the necessary actions are taken to bring it into compliance. These provisions underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.