COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes
AD/M20/45 Overvoltage Warning Light 12/89
Applicability: All model M20J aircraft S/No 24-3000 through 24-3122. All model M20K aircraft S/No 25-1000 through 25-1213.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Mooney Aircraft Service Bulletin M20-245. Compliance: Prior to 30 November 1990.
Background: Mooney have advised that the 24VDC electrical wiring system on affected S/No aircraft is wired such that the overvoltage warning light is inoperative.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, are a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Among the various parts and schedules, PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES specifically addresses the issuance of directives to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft. The Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes Overvoltage Warning Light AD/M20/45 directive, issued on 12 August 1989, is an example of such measures, targeting a critical safety issue identified in certain Mooney M20J and M20K aircraft models. This directive was introduced to address the problem of inoperative overvoltage warning lights in affected aircraft, ensuring that the 24VDC electrical wiring system does not compromise flight safety. Mooney Aircraft Service Bulletin M20-245 provides the necessary action to rectify this issue, with compliance required prior to 30 November 1990.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all model M20J Mooney aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 24-3000 through 24-3122, and all model M20K Mooney aircraft with serial numbers from 25-1000 through 25-1213. These regulations are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and pertain to the airworthiness directives for Mooney M20 Series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the overvoltage warning light as detailed in AD/M20/45 from 12/89. The directive mandates that all affected aircraft must comply with Mooney Aircraft Service Bulletin M20-245 and take necessary action to ensure the overvoltage warning light is operational. Compliance with these directives must be achieved prior to 30 November 1990. This regulation is applicable nationally and aims to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified Mooney M20 Series aeroplanes by addressing an identified wiring issue that renders the overvoltage warning light inoperative.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandates certain airworthiness directives for the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes (1). Among these, AD/M20/45 pertains to the overvoltage warning light for certain Mooney M20J and M20K aircraft serial numbers (2). The directive requires that all affected aircraft must comply with the instructions set out in Mooney Aircraft Service Bulletin M20-245 (3). This directive applies to all Mooney M20J aircraft with serial numbers between 24-3000 and 24-3122, and all Mooney M20K aircraft with serial numbers between 25-1000 and 25-1213 (4). The compliance deadline for these requirements was set prior to 30 November 1990 (5).
The obligations imposed by this directive on the aircraft owners or operators include ensuring that the necessary modifications and checks are carried out on the specified aircraft to rectify the wiring issue affecting the overvoltage warning light (6). This involves following the detailed instructions in the Mooney Aircraft Service Bulletin M20-245, which likely includes wiring adjustments or replacements to make the warning light functional again (7). It is the responsibility of the aircraft owner or operator to ensure that these modifications are completed by the specified deadline to maintain compliance with civil aviation safety standards (8).
Failure to comply with this airworthiness directive could result in serious consequences (9). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to take enforcement actions against non-compliance, which could include fines, penalties, or even grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken (10). Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment (11).