{"id":"F2009L00187","name":"AD/ML-M6/3 - Elevator Controls","slug":"ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":76631,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L00187-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Maule M-6 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Maule M-6 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Maule M-6 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/ML-M6/3 | 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.

M-6-180

8020C, 8043C, 8065C through 8067C

M-6-235

7249C, 7356C, 7379C through 7444C, 7446C through 7450C, 7452C through 7459C, 7461C through 7466C, 7468C, 7469C, 7471C through 7475C, 7488C through 7514C, 7516C through 7522C

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

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.”

\n```\n\n| | 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-M6/3","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ML-M6/3","content":"## AD/ML-M6/3","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":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD text does not indicate any change to its original scope. It applies only to the listed M‑6‑180 and M‑6‑235 serial numbers and prescribes the two specified actions (colour-coding and maintenance-program insertion) to address reversed elevator rigging."},"complexity_factors":["Targeted applicability limited to specific serial numbers (Table 1) — requires fleet-level identification of affected aircraft.","Two distinct compliance actions: physical colour-coding of four locations per aircraft (Requirement 1) and insertion of a caution into the maintenance/rigging procedure (Requirement 2).","Conditional compliance deadline: before the next elevator cable disconnect OR within 12 calendar months — creates scheduling and monitoring duties (Compliance).","Mandated conformity with an external document: follow Maule Aerospace Technology Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30 (Requirement 1) — requires obtaining and following the service bulletin.","Regulatory interaction: CASA Note 1 reminds operators of additional obligations under Civil Aviation Regulation (1988) 42G when flight control parts are assembled/adjusted/replaced — potential extra compliance steps (Notes).","Cross-reference to FAA AD 2008-24-02 (Note 2) — indicates alignment with an existing FAA directive and possible coordination for operators using FAA-approved programs.","Safety-critical context (Background): directive issued after two accidents where reversed rigging was a factor, increasing enforcement and operational significance.","Legal force and timing: specified effective date (12 February 2009) and formal issuance by CASA delegate — establishes mandatory status and retrospective planning constraints."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of listed Maule M‑6‑180 and M‑6‑235 serial-numbered aeroplanes to paint four elevator-control attachment points yellow and add a caution to their FAA‑approved maintenance program (per Maule SB No.30). CASA says the measure aims to prevent reversed elevator rigging after cable reconnection following two accidents. Operators/maintenance organisations must perform the paint work and update procedures before the next elevator cable disconnection or within 12 months, bearing the compliance and scheduling costs."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific mechanical rigging error on specific Maule aircraft models. The scope has not expanded beyond the original safety issue of preventing reversed elevator control installation."},"complexity_factors":["Single, discrete subject matter (elevator control rigging on one aircraft series)","Only 2 substantive requirements (painting and manual insertion)","Clear applicability table with specific serial numbers","Straightforward compliance deadline (next maintenance or 12 months)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation beyond a single FAA AD reference and general CAR 42G reminder","Minimal defined terms (uses common aviation terminology)","Short document length (approximately 1 page of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of specified Maule M‑6‑180 and M‑6‑235 aeroplanes (listed by serial number) to paint elevator control horns and cable ends yellow and to add a maintenance‑manual caution requiring post‑reconnect flight‑control checks. It targets maintenance engineers and pilots because reversed elevator rigging has caused fatal loss of control. Comply before the next elevator‑cable disconnection or within 12 months."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls","history":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m6-3-elevator-controls/documents"}}