{"id":"F2009L00184","name":"AD/ML-M4/19 - Elevator Controls","slug":"ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":76626,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L00184-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/ML-M4/19 | Elevator Controls | 2/2009 |\n| ----------- | ----------------- | ------ |\n\n```html\n

Applicability:

This AD applies to the following aeroplane models and serial numbers detailed in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1.

Bee Dee M-4

All serial numbers

M-4

All serial numbers

M-4-180C

All serial numbers

M-4-180V

47001T through 47014T

M-4-210

All serial numbers

M-4-210C

All serial numbers

M-4-210S

All serial numbers

M-4-220C

All serial numbers

M-4-220S

All serial numbers

M-4C

All serial numbers

M-4S

All serial numbers

M-4T

All serial numbers

Requirement:

1. Using yellow enamel paint, colour code the following:

a) the top of the rear elevator control horn,

b) the elevator control cable end attached to the top of the rear control horn,

c) the bottom of the forward elevator control horn, and

\n```\n\n| | d) the elevator control cable end attached to the bottom of the forward control horn.Follow Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30 dated 4 March 2008.2. Insert the following text into the rigging procedure section of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g. maintenance manual):“CAUTION – BEFORE FLIGHT WHENEVER ELEVATOR CABLES ARE RECONNECTED OR NEW CABLES INSTALLED: Always check operation of elevators after a cable reconnect by pulling back on the control and ascertain that the elevators are in the UP position.”Follow Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30. This may be achieved by inserting a copy of this AD or inserting the text located on the bottom of page 3 of Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30 into the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g. maintenance manual).Note 1: CASA reminds operators that Civil Aviation Regulation (1988) 42G requires additional requirements to be complied with if any part of the flight control system of an Australian aircraft is assembled, adjusted, repaired, modified or replaced in the course of carrying out maintenance on the aircraft.Note 2: FAA AD 2008-24-02 Amdt 39-15742 dated 10 November 2008 refers. |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Compliance: | Before the next time the elevator control cable is disconnected for any reason or within the next 12 calendar months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. |\n| | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 12 February 2009. |\n| Background: | This AD results from two reports of accidents where reversed elevator control rigging was a factor. The issuing of this AD is intended to reduce the likelihood of a mechanic rigging the elevator controls backwards, which could result in elevator movement in the opposite direction from control input. This failure could lead to loss of control. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nJames Coyne \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n22 December 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/ML-M4/19","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ML-M4/19","content":"## AD/ML-M4/19","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Elevator Controls","sectionType":"part","heading":"Elevator Controls","content":"## Elevator Controls","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2009","content":"## 2/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD's scope is limited to preventing reversed elevator rigging on the listed Maule M‑4 models/serials by requiring colour coding and a maintenance‑program rigging check. It aligns with the stated safety objective and does not expand obligations beyond the identified aircraft and the two specified remedies (marking and procedural insertion)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability is specific to multiple Maule M‑4 model variants and particular serial numbers (Applicability table), requiring careful identification of affected aircraft.","Prescriptive, technical painting requirements: yellow enamel applied to four distinct control locations (Requirement 1 a–d).","Procedural change obligation: insertion of a prescribed caution/check into the FAA‑approved maintenance program (Requirement 2), requiring maintenance‑manual amendment and record keeping.","Conditional compliance deadline: \"before the next elevator control cable is disconnected for any reason OR within the next 12 calendar months,\" creating a two‑pronged trigger for different operators (Compliance).","Cross‑references to external materials and rules: Maule Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30, FAA AD 2008‑24‑02, and Civil Aviation Regulation (1988) 42G (Notes), which operators must consult.","Verification and enforcement rely on maintenance actions and records rather than hardware certification, which may create modest administrative inspection burdens."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of specified Maule M‑4 series aeroplanes to colour‑code four elevator control points with yellow enamel and to add a before‑flight elevator rigging check into the approved maintenance program. It is aimed at the listed models/serial numbers to prevent reversed elevator rigging that could make elevator movement opposite to control input. Owners/operators pay for the markings and maintenance-program amendment. Compliance is required before the next elevator-cable disconnect or within 12 months; the AD follows Maule Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific safety defect in elevator control rigging for a defined aircraft series. The scope has not expanded beyond the original safety purpose of preventing reversed control installation."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement with clear mechanical actions (painting and documentation)","Limited applicability table with 12 aircraft models but straightforward 'all serial numbers' coverage for most variants","Simple conditional compliance deadline (next disconnection OR 12 months)","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Cross-reference to external technical document (Maule Service Bulletin No. 30) but with explicit alternative compliance method provided","Two advisory notes referencing related regulations but these do not create additional compliance obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory CASA Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Maule M‑4 series aeroplanes to make two fixes to prevent reversed elevator rigging: mark specific elevator control horn/cable ends with yellow enamel paint and insert a CAUTION in the maintenance manual to verify elevators move UP when the stick is pulled back. It responds to two accidents and must be done before the next cable disconnection or within 12 months."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls","history":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m4-19-elevator-controls/documents"}}