{"id":"F2006B11247","name":"AD/M20/42 - Autopilot Servo Cable Guards","slug":"ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":56967,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B11247-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/M20/42 - Autopilot Servo Cable Guards","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/M20/42 Autopilot Servo Cable Guards 2/86 DM\n\nApplicability: All model M20J and M20K with KAP 100/150/KFC 150 autopilot to STC SA 1561CE-D or KFC 200 autopilot to STC SA 1771CE-D.\n\n \n\nRequirement: King SB KS 177/178-3.\n\n \n\nNote: FAA AD 85-25-02 also refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 16 January 1986.\n\n \n\nBackground:  An installation problem has been identified which can result in jamming of primary pitch and/or roll control. This condition has occurred in service.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft configurations. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a physical modification to prevent control jamming."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 2 defined applicability criteria (aircraft model + autopilot STC)","Single requirement referencing an external technical document (King Service Bulletin)","Simple compliance deadline (10 hours time in service from fixed date)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","Straightforward background explaining the safety risk"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety fix ordered by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nRequires owners and operators of certain **Mooney M20J and M20K aeroplanes** (light aircraft) to install cable guards on their autopilot servo systems. These guards prevent the autopilot cables from jamming the main flight controls (pitch and roll), which could cause the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of Mooney M20J and M20K models\n- Specifically those fitted with **KAP 100/150/KFC 150** or **KFC 200 autopilot systems** installed under particular Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs — basically official modifications approved by aviation regulators)\n\n**What must be done:**\nFollow **King SB KS 177/178-3** — a Service Bulletin issued by the autopilot manufacturer (King) that contains the technical instructions for the fix.\n\n**When:**\nWithin **10 hours of flying time** after 16 January 1986.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe directive addresses a serious safety defect discovered \"in service\" (meaning it actually happened to aircraft in operation). Without this fix, autopilot cables can physically jam the primary flight controls, potentially causing a crash. This is a \"do it or ground the aircraft\" type of order."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive explicitly applies to M20J and M20K aircraft with the specified autopilot installations (Applicability) and requires work per King SB KS 177/178-3 (Requirement). The text supplied contains no language indicating an expansion or narrowing of scope beyond that stated applicability, so there is no indication in this instrument that the scope has changed from its stated purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to specific airframe models and specific autopilot STC installations (Applicability).","Mandates compliance with an external technical document (King SB KS 177/178-3), requiring operators to obtain and follow the service bulletin (Requirement).","Short, definite compliance window (within 10 hours TIS after 16 January 1986) creating immediate scheduling pressure (Compliance).","Safety-critical technical issue (risk of jamming primary pitch/roll control) increases importance but not legal complexity (Background).","Cross-reference to FAA AD 85-25-02, requiring attention to related foreign directive but not adding procedural steps in this text (Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of Mooney M20J and M20K aeroplanes equipped with the specified King autopilots to have autopilot servo cable guards fitted in accordance with King SB KS 177/178-3 within 10 hours TIS after 16 Jan 1986. It targets an installation issue that has caused jamming of primary pitch or roll controls, affects maintenance providers who must perform the work, and places compliance cost on the aircraft owner/operator; issued by CASA."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards","history":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-m20-42-autopilot-servo-cable-guards/documents"}}