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Some Bonanzas removed from aileron inspection directive

An airworthiness directive (AD) that required inspection of the right aileron flight control cable end fittings on many Beechcraft Bonanza single-engine airplanes has been superseded by a revised AD that removes some Bonanza models from the list of affected aircraft.

Photo by Mike Fizer.

On November 25, the FAA published a Federal Register notice replacing AD 2019–21– 08, which took effect November 22, with a new AD that retains the original AD’s required actions but removes almost 1,000 Bonanza model K35, M35, N35, and P35 airplanes from the affected list.

The FAA published the revision after the American Bonanza Society owners group pointed out that the K35, M35, N35, and P35 models “do not share the design characteristic that has shown to be causal to the airworthiness concern.” The new AD applies to an estimated 3,161 airplanes. The superseded AD applied to approximately 4,138 Bonanzas.

The AD, which mandates inspection of the right aileron flight control cable end fittings (terminal attachment fittings) and replacement of damaged components “resulted from reports of cracked and fractured right aileron flight control cable end fittings”—a problem the FAA said could cause loss of control.  The FAA has also extended the deadline for comments on the AD until January 9, 2020.

Comments may be submitted 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-2019-0959 and Product Identifier 2019-CE-051-AD at the beginning of your comments.

Dan Namowitz

Dan Namowitz

Dan Namowitz has been writing for AOPA in a variety of capacities since 1991. He has been a flight instructor since 1990 and is a 35-year AOPA member.
Topics: Advocacy, Aircraft Regulation, Ownership

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