AD 59-06-03

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A

AD Number
59-06-03
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.
Technical illustration of an aircraft flight control surface and actuator
Problem area Flight controls

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft Mooney Aviation Company Inc M20 Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A
aircraft Mooney Aviation Company Inc M20A Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A

Unsafe Condition

Failure of rudder hinge bearing bracket (P/N 4003) due to cracked or inadequately welded fillet welds between the outer race and channel leg.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Inspect welds of hinge bearing housing (7/8 inch O.D. x 0.058 inch 4130 steel tube) attached to fixed surface hinge bearing channel (P/N 4002) within five flight hours. Remove paint and use 10-power glass to check for cracks or inadequate welds. Replace defective brackets with modified P/N 4003 brackets prior to further flight if cracks found, or by April 15, 1959, for inadequate welds. Install AN 960-3 washers or P/N 8389 shims during installation, and recover fabric patches with Butyrate dope as specified.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

Within the next five flight hours for inspection; prior to further flight if cracks found; not later than April 15, 1959, for inadequate welds.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A, serial numbers 1002 through 1364.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

Hinge Bearing Brackets

Applicability Source Text

Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_59-06-03.html
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AD Number:
59-06-03
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A
Subject:
Hinge Bearing Brackets
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Mooney Aviation Company Inc
Model:
M20 | M20A
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: 59-06-03
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   59-06-03

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:   59-06-03 MOONEY: Applies to Models M-20 and M-20A Serial Numbers 1002 Through 1364.
Compliance required as indicated.
A failure of a rudder hinge bearing bracket (P/N 4003) has occurred on a Mooney M- 20A. To preclude the possibility of similar failures occurring on these brackets or on the aileron and elevator hinge bearing brackets, the following inspection and rework is required as indicated:
Within the next five flight hours, inspect the welds which attach the hinge bearing housing (7/8 inch O.D. x .058 inch 4130 steel tube) to the fixed surface hinge bearing channel (P/N 4002). Bearing bracket assemblies (P/N 4003) are installed as aileron, elevator, and rudder hinges. The inspection shall be conducted as follows:
Remove paint from welds and, using a 10-power glass, inspect for cracks or inadequate weld (i.e. weld which does not completely fill fillet cross section area.)
If cracks are found, the bearing brackets on that surface must be removed and a set of modified hinge bearing brackets (P/N 4003) installed prior to further flight.
If inadequate welds are found (i.e., such as but not limited to, not completely, filling in between the face of the outer race and the top of the channel leg and/or inadequate fillet radius between the edge of the outer race and the top of the channel leg) the defective bearing brackets must be removed and a set of modified hinge bearing brackets (P/N 4003) installed on that surface not later than April 15, 1959.
A set of hinge bearing brackets is defined as follows: Aileron --all three (3) hinge bearing brackets; elevator - outer two (2) hinge bearing brackets; rudder - upper two (2) hinge bearing brackets. The installation shall be accomplished as follows:
(1) Install AN 960-3 washers (2) with each new hinge bearing bracket, one at each attach bolt between bracket and structure except at the tip elevator hinge where P/N 8389 shim should be used in place of the inboard washer.
(2) Rudder
(a) Remove fabric covering small "D" shaped cutout in plywood at trailing edge on right-hand side at each of the upper hinges. Do not remove gap tape or lower hinge bolt.
(b) Replace hinge bearing bracket (2) and recover access openings with fabric patch (use Butyrate dope.)
(3) Elevator
(a) Remove fabric covering small "D" shaped cutout in plywood at trailing edge on under side at each of the outboard hinges. Do not remove gap tape or inboard hinge bolt.
(b) Replace hinge bearing bracket (2) (see item (1) for use of ship at tip hinge bracket) and recover access opening with fabric patch (use Butyrate dope).
(4) Aileron
(a) Remove counterbalance weight fairing and two access plates at trailing edge of wing.
(b) Disconnect control tube and remove aileron.
(c) Check clearance between aileron gap strip and existing hinge bearing bracket. If this clearance is not approximately 1/16-inch, the gap strip may have to be dimpled at the hinge to allow clearance for heavier replacement bracket.
(d) Replace hinge bearing bracket (3).
(Mooney Aircraft Inc. Service Letters 20-44 and 20-45 cover this same subject.)

FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_59-06-03.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
59-06-03
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A
Subject:
Hinge Bearing Brackets
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Mooney Aviation Company Inc
Model:
M20 | M20A
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: 59-06-03
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   59-06-03

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Models M-20 and M-20A

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:   59-06-03 MOONEY: Applies to Models M-20 and M-20A Serial Numbers 1002 Through 1364.
Compliance required as indicated.
A failure of a rudder hinge bearing bracket (P/N 4003) has occurred on a Mooney M- 20A. To preclude the possibility of similar failures occurring on these brackets or on the aileron and elevator hinge bearing brackets, the following inspection and rework is required as indicated:
Within the next five flight hours, inspect the welds which attach the hinge bearing housing (7/8 inch O.D. x .058 inch 4130 steel tube) to the fixed surface hinge bearing channel (P/N 4002). Bearing bracket assemblies (P/N 4003) are installed as aileron, elevator, and rudder hinges. The inspection shall be conducted as follows:
Remove paint from welds and, using a 10-power glass, inspect for cracks or inadequate weld (i.e. weld which does not completely fill fillet cross section area.)
If cracks are found, the bearing brackets on that surface must be removed and a set of modified hinge bearing brackets (P/N 4003) installed prior to further flight.
If inadequate welds are found (i.e., such as but not limited to, not completely, filling in between the face of the outer race and the top of the channel leg and/or inadequate fillet radius between the edge of the outer race and the top of the channel leg) the defective bearing brackets must be removed and a set of modified hinge bearing brackets (P/N 4003) installed on that surface not later than April 15, 1959.
A set of hinge bearing brackets is defined as follows: Aileron --all three (3) hinge bearing brackets; elevator - outer two (2) hinge bearing brackets; rudder - upper two (2) hinge bearing brackets. The installation shall be accomplished as follows:
(1) Install AN 960-3 washers (2) with each new hinge bearing bracket, one at each attach bolt between bracket and structure except at the tip elevator hinge where P/N 8389 shim should be used in place of the inboard washer.
(2) Rudder
(a) Remove fabric covering small "D" shaped cutout in plywood at trailing edge on right-hand side at each of the upper hinges. Do not remove gap tape or lower hinge bolt.
(b) Replace hinge bearing bracket (2) and recover access openings with fabric patch (use Butyrate dope.)
(3) Elevator
(a) Remove fabric covering small "D" shaped cutout in plywood at trailing edge on under side at each of the outboard hinges. Do not remove gap tape or inboard hinge bolt.
(b) Replace hinge bearing bracket (2) (see item (1) for use of ship at tip hinge bracket) and recover access opening with fabric patch (use Butyrate dope).
(4) Aileron
(a) Remove counterbalance weight fairing and two access plates at trailing edge of wing.
(b) Disconnect control tube and remove aileron.
(c) Check clearance between aileron gap strip and existing hinge bearing bracket. If this clearance is not approximately 1/16-inch, the gap strip may have to be dimpled at the hinge to allow clearance for heavier replacement bracket.
(d) Replace hinge bearing bracket (3).
(Mooney Aircraft Inc. Service Letters 20-44 and 20-45 cover this same subject.)

FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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