SAIB SW-02-46

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. SW-02-46 September 11, 2002 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, a registered owner or operator of Mooney Aircraft Corporation manufactured aircraft M20M (s/n 27-0287 through 27-0316), M20R (s/n 29-0218 through 29-0280), M20S (s/n 30-0047 through 30-0062), of the release of Mooney Airplane Company, Inc.

Service Bulletin M20-280 IR, dated August 1, 2002. This Service Bulletin addresses main landing gear retraction tube rod ends.

Background Mooney has received two reports indicating failure of the 915053-7 rod end bearing. One incident was found during a post-landing inspection, the other during an annual inspection. This rod end bearing is part of the 915053-501 main landing gear retraction tube.

Inspection of the failed rod end bearings and analysis of the existing bearing’s ability to withstand extension and retraction tension loads has not revealed a cause for their failure. Possible causes for the failure are: (1) damage to the rod end bearings during initial installation of the retraction tube; (2) mis-rigging of the landing gear system causing unusual loading of the system components; (3) the 915053-7 rod end bearing may not be to design requirements; or a combination of the above.

Mere inspection of the rod ends may not reveal damage that could lead to a possible failure. Therefore compliance with Service Bulletin M20-280, which replaces the rod ends with new components and verifies proper system rigging, is highly recommended.

Recommendation The Service Bulletin identified in this document is not considered appropriate for AD action at this time.

However, the FAA strongly suggests that all owners/operators of the Mooney M20 series aircraft previously listed review their compliance with the Service Bulletin listed below.

Mooney M20 Airplane Series Service Bulletin Number/Date Model/Serial Number Title M20-280 IR/August 1, 2002 M20M 27-0287 through 27-0316 M20R 29-0218 through 29-0280 M20S 30-0047 through 30-0062 Main Landing Gear Retraction Tube Rod Ends This Service Bulletin Can Be Obtained From Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028; phone (830) 896-6000; fax:

(830) 257-4635; website: www.mooney.com For Further Information, Contact Andrew D. McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150;

phone (817) 222-5156; fax: (817) 222-5960; email: andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov