# AD 85-24-03: Fuel Tank Bays and Rib Station Inspection - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Mooney M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K and M22 - Effective: January 6, 1986 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-5173 - Registered aircraft: 5,326 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/9C93312CAD9E7AAB86256A4D00490B41.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-24-03 ## The airworthiness directive 85-24-03 MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-5173. Applies to Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K, and M22 (all Serial Numbers (S/N)) airplanes certificated in any category. Compliance: Within 100 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first, unless already accomplished. To preclude fuel contamination and water entrapment in the fuel tanks accomplish the following: (a) For Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G (all S/N), M20J (S/N 24-0001 through 24-1498), M20K (S/N 25-0001 through 25-0854) and M22 (all S/N) airplanes, visually inspect all fuel tank bays and rib stations in accordance with the instructions contained in Mooney S/B M20-230, dated April 10, 1985. Repair all discrepancies found prior to further flight. (b) For Models M20C (S/N 2623 through 20-1258), M20D (S/N 201 through 260), M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K and M22 (all S/N) airplanes, visually inspect the fueltank filler cap assemblies in accordance with the instructions contained in Mooney S/B M20-229, dated April 10, 1985. Repair all discrepancies found prior to further flight. (c) For Models M20J (S/N 24-1499 and on) and 20K (S/N 20-0855 and on) airplanes that have had any fuel tank resealed after initial installation at the factory, visually inspect all fuel tank bays and rib stations in accordance with the instructions contained in Mooney S/B M20-230 dated April 10, 1985. Repair all discrepancies found prior to further flight. (d) Airplanes may be flown in accordance with FAR 21.197 to a location where this AD may be accomplished. (e) An equivalent method of compliance with this AD, if used, must be approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Branch, ASW-150, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, Post Office Box 1689, Fort Worth, Texas 76101. All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the documents referred to herein upon request toMooney Aircraft Corporation, Post Office Box 72, Kerrville, Texas 78028-0072 or FAA, Office of Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. This amendment becomes effective on January 6, 1986. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS 2A3](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2A3): Mooney International Corporation; names 8 of 17 models: M20F, M20E, M20K, M20D, M20B, M20C, M20J, M20G - [TCDS A6SW](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A6SW): Mooney Aircraft Corporation; names 1 of 1 models: M22 ## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs) Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment. - Aircraft: 5,326 (5,326 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Mooney 5,303, Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas 23 Models with the most aircraft: - [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j): 1,408 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 1,258 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e): 829 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k): 771 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f): 721 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M-20G](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g): 116 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20B](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20b): 98 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M20D](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20d): 88 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mooney M22](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m22): 14 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20e): 9 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20f): 8 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20c): 6 aircraft (airframe model) All 12 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-24-03/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-24-03/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. ## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (5) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ERA21LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA170), Apr 3, 2021: Mooney M20C (N2953L), College Park, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper maintenance of the airplane by its owners and their failure to have qualified maintenance personnel determine the root cause of water infiltration into the fuel system. Also causal was the… - [NTSB ERA12LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA206), Mar 3, 2012: Mooney M20M (N486KC), Amisville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because of the damage due to the postcrash fire. - [NTSB NYC08LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA311), Sep 8, 2008: Mooney M20J (N301KC), Hackettstown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adhere to the airplane manufacturer's published preflight inspection procedures, enabling water to remain undetected in the fuel system, which resulted in a complete loss of… - [NTSB NYC02FA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02FA200), Sep 30, 2002: Mooney M20E (N5556Q), West Creek, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect water-contaminated fuel, and his failure to maintain airspeed. - [NTSB NYC02LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA188), Sep 16, 2002: Mooney M20J (N201ZC), Canadaigua, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.