Airworthiness directive issued on Bonanza aileron assemblies
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) on many models of the Beechcraft Bonanza single-engine airplane requiring inspection of the right aileron flight control cable end fittings and replacing damaged cable assemblies.
The AD is scheduled to take effect November 22 and affects an estimated 4,138 U.S.-registered airplanes. It was issued after the FAA reviewed 17 reports of right aileron flight control cable end fitting failures.
The American Bonanza Society issued a statement backing the FAA’s “speedy but measured” action and expressing appreciation for its members participating in the review by providing user data. However, the owner group questioned the inclusion of some Bonanza models in the AD.
“This is an example of airworthiness and regulation done right—the type club and maintenance experts collectively find a problem, we limit the focus to the actual data that emerge, and FAA acts on our recommendations to ensure safety across the entire fleet,” it said. “ABS is concerned that some models of Bonanza, specifically the K35, M35, N35 and P35, were added to the Final Rule when they do not share the design characteristic that has shown to be causal to the airworthiness concern. We are attempting to find out why FAA added these models, and whether it was a mistake that can be rectified by removing those models from the AD.”
The FAA will accept comments on the AD until December 23 online or by mail to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Please include Docket Number FAA-2019-0853 and Product Identifier 2019-CE-036-AD at the beginning of your comments.
