AD 50-31-01
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | Cessna Aircraft Company | 120 | Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes |
| aircraft | Cessna Aircraft Company | 140 | Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes |
| aircraft | Cessna Aircraft Company | 140A | Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes |
Unsafe Condition
Fin spar fatigue failures have occurred in flight due to inadequate inspection difficulty, resulting in flange buckles or cracks in the spar and spar reinforcing channel.
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Required Actions
Inspect the fin spar for flange buckles or cracks using an 8-power magnifying glass. If failure exists, replace the spar with one incorporating a 0.051 24ST alclad fin spar reinforcing channel (Cessna P/N 0431129 or equivalent). If no failure, install reinforcing angles (Cessna P/N 0431145 and 1431145-1 or equivalent). For spot-welded aircraft, drill out spots with a No. 30 drill, pry skin loose, inspect, and replace spot welds with 1/8-inch rivets or use larger rivets if damage prevents proper filling.
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Compliance Time
Compliance required as soon as possible and not later than August 1, 1950, except for spot-welded aircraft which must comply by September 1, 1950.
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Affected Aircraft
Cessna Model 120 and 140 aircraft, serial numbers 8001 to 15035 inclusive, where the 0.051 reinforcing channel or 0.040 reinforcing angles have not been installed.
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Federal Register Abstract
Fin Spar Reinforcement
Applicability Source Text
Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_50-31-01.html Copy URL Print/Save as PDF Document Versions Feedback Details AD Number: 50-31-01 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: Unknown Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes Subject: Fin Spar Reinforcement Status: Current Citation: This information is not available. Citation Publish Date: Effective Date: Make: Cessna Aircraft Company Model: 120 | 140 | 140A Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Small Airplane Affected AD: Superseded AD: Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 50-31-01 CITATION: This information is not available. PAGE NUMBER: DOCKET NUMBER: Unknown AMENDMENT: AD NUMBER: 50-31-01 SUBJECT HEADING: Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes ACTION: SUMMARY: DATES: ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: REGULATORY TEXT: 50-31-01 CESSNA: Applies to All Models 120 and 140 Aircraft, Serial Numbers 8001 to 15035, Inclusive, on Which the 0.051 Reinforcing Channel or 0.040 Reinforcing Angles Have Not Been Installed. Compliance required as soon as possible and not later than August 1, 1950, except as indicated below. Because two fin spar fatigue failures have occurred in flight, indicating inadequate inspection due to the difficulty of such inspection, the fin must be removed for inspection. Inspection can then be best accomplished by removing five rivets in the fin bottom rib skin attachment and all attaching rivets through the spar and doubler flanges to permit raising the adjacent skin. The front face of the spar and the spar reinforcing channel should then be carefully inspected for flange buckles or cracks with at least an 8-power magnifying glass in the bend radii and in the adjacent flange rivet or clearance holes in the region of the bottom rib attachment. Modify in accordance with item 1 or 2 herein: 1. If failure exists, the spar must be replaced with a spar incorporating an 0.051 24ST alclad fin spar reinforcing channel, Cessna P/N 0431129, or equivalent. 2. If no failure exists, reinforcing angles, Cessna P/N 0431145 and 1431145-1 or equivalent, must be installed. (Cessna Service Letter No. 62 dated April 10, 1950, covers this same subject.) Some of the first airplanes were manufactured using spot welded instead of riveted construction. The following applies to these aircraft and should be accomplished not later than September 1, 1950: Drill out center of spots with No. 30 drill. Carefully pry skin loose from spar and root rib using a thin lever. Inspect and accomplish 1 or 2 above replacing all drilled spot welds with 1/8- inch rivets as required. In case that sheet or underlying structure is left with a damaged hole which cannot be properly filled with a 1/8-inch rivet, replace with 5/32-inch rivet or add an additional 1/8-inch rivet on each side of damaged hole. This supersedes AD 50-17-01. FOOTER:
Document Text
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AD Final Rules - DRS_50-31-01.html Copy URL Print/Save as PDF Document Versions Feedback Details AD Number: 50-31-01 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: Unknown Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes Subject: Fin Spar Reinforcement Status: Current Citation: This information is not available. Citation Publish Date: Effective Date: Make: Cessna Aircraft Company Model: 120 | 140 | 140A Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Small Airplane Affected AD: Superseded AD: Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 50-31-01 CITATION: This information is not available. PAGE NUMBER: DOCKET NUMBER: Unknown AMENDMENT: AD NUMBER: 50-31-01 SUBJECT HEADING: Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Model 120 and 140 Airplanes ACTION: SUMMARY: DATES: ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: REGULATORY TEXT: 50-31-01 CESSNA: Applies to All Models 120 and 140 Aircraft, Serial Numbers 8001 to 15035, Inclusive, on Which the 0.051 Reinforcing Channel or 0.040 Reinforcing Angles Have Not Been Installed. Compliance required as soon as possible and not later than August 1, 1950, except as indicated below. Because two fin spar fatigue failures have occurred in flight, indicating inadequate inspection due to the difficulty of such inspection, the fin must be removed for inspection. Inspection can then be best accomplished by removing five rivets in the fin bottom rib skin attachment and all attaching rivets through the spar and doubler flanges to permit raising the adjacent skin. The front face of the spar and the spar reinforcing channel should then be carefully inspected for flange buckles or cracks with at least an 8-power magnifying glass in the bend radii and in the adjacent flange rivet or clearance holes in the region of the bottom rib attachment. Modify in accordance with item 1 or 2 herein: 1. If failure exists, the spar must be replaced with a spar incorporating an 0.051 24ST alclad fin spar reinforcing channel, Cessna P/N 0431129, or equivalent. 2. If no failure exists, reinforcing angles, Cessna P/N 0431145 and 1431145-1 or equivalent, must be installed. (Cessna Service Letter No. 62 dated April 10, 1950, covers this same subject.) Some of the first airplanes were manufactured using spot welded instead of riveted construction. The following applies to these aircraft and should be accomplished not later than September 1, 1950: Drill out center of spots with No. 30 drill. Carefully pry skin loose from spar and root rib using a thin lever. Inspect and accomplish 1 or 2 above replacing all drilled spot welds with 1/8- inch rivets as required. In case that sheet or underlying structure is left with a damaged hole which cannot be properly filled with a 1/8-inch rivet, replace with 5/32-inch rivet or add an additional 1/8-inch rivet on each side of damaged hole. This supersedes AD 50-17-01. FOOTER:
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Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026
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