Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22311 · Elevator structure
Mooney International Corporation Airplanes
Mooney International Corporation Model M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, and M20G airplanes, all serial numbers up to 680170 inclusive, certificated in any category.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Mooney International Corporation Model M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, and M20G airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the hybrid material elevator balance weight cracking. This AD requires inspecting to determine whether a certain elevator balance weight is installed. If installed, this AD requires inspecting each affected elevator balance weight for corrosion and cracking, and depending on the findings, either replacing each affected elevator balance weight with a non- hybrid (lead) elevator balance weight or repetitively inspecting each affected elevator balance weight. This AD also prohibits the installation of an affected elevator balance weight on any airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, inspect both elevators to determine if any hybrid elevator balance weight part number (P/N) 430018-1 is installed in accordance with STEP 1.1 of the Instructions section in Mooney International Corporation Service Bulletin M20-345A, dated December 13, 2022. The repetitive inspection and replacement required by paragraphs (g)(2) and (3) of this AD are not required if any hybrid elevator balance weight P/N 430018-1 is not installed.
(2) If any hybrid elevator balance weight P/N 430018-1 is installed, before further flight after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time-in-service or 12 months, whichever occurs first, inspect each hybrid elevator balance weight P/N 430018-1 for any corrosion and cracks in accordance with STEP 2 of the Instructions section in Mooney International Corporation Service Bulletin M20-345A, dated December 13, 2022.
(3) If any corrosion or cracks are found as a result of any inspection required in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, before further flight, replace the elevator balance weight with a non-hybrid (lead) elevator balance weight P/N 430016-7 in accordance with STEPS 3.1.1 through 3.1.8 of the Instructions section in Mooney International Corporation Service Bulletin M20-345A, dated December 13, 2022, except contacting Mooney Service Parts in STEP 3.1.7 is not required by this AD. The repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD are no longer required for that elevator balance weight after this replacement.
(4) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install hybrid elevator balance weight P/N 430018-1 on any airplane.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
