SAIB CE-09-38

FAA Aircraft Certification Service

SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: CE-09-38 SUBJ: Wings: Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Wing Tip Fairings Date: July 7, 2009 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you of an airworthiness concern for Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20J, and M20K airplanes that are equipped with wing tip fairings installed in accordance with STC SA4443NM or other Mooney airplanes that could have similar STC wing tip fairing installation / modifications installed.

At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background

Mooney M20 series airplane equipped with STC SA4443NM or any other Mooney airplanes with similar STC wing tip fairing installation / modifications are required to have an FAA approved tail mounted strobe light installed in addition to the wing tip mounted strobe lights in order to meet the requirements detailed in 14 CFR 23.1401.

Recommendations

The FAA recommends that, in order to meet 14 CFR 23.1401, owners and operators of the above referenced airplane configurations inspect their airplane to verify that a tail mounted strobe light is installed in addition to the wing tip mounted strobe lights. If after inspections a tail mounted strobe light is not installed, an FAA approved tail mounted strobe light should be installed to ensure proper field of coverage of the anti-collision lighting system.

For Further Information Contact

Dan Poblete, Aerospace Safety Engineer, FAA Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Suite 100, Lakewood, CA 90712, telephone: (562) 627-5341, fax: (562) 627-5210, email:

Daniel.Poblete@faa.gov.