{"id":"F2009L00188","name":"AD/ML-M7/4 - Elevator Controls","slug":"ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":76632,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L00188-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Maule M-7 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Maule M-7 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Maule M-7 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/ML-M7/4 | 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-7-235

4001C through 4132C, 12001C, 12002C

M-7-235A

24001C

M-7-235B

23001C through 23105C

M-7-235C

25001C through 25106C

M-7-260

26001C through 26021C

M-7-260C

30001C through 30040C

M-7-420A

35001C

M-7-420AC

29001C, 29003C through 29007C

M-8-235

15001C through 15006C

MT-7-235

18001C through 18097C, 18099C, 18100C

MT-7-260

27001C through 27014C

MT-7-420

51001C, 51002C

MX-7-160

19001C through 19046C

MX-7-160C

34001C

\n```\n\n```html\n

MX-7-180

11001C through 11097C

MX-7-180A

20001C through 20064C

MX-7-180AC

33001C through 33010C

MX-7-180B

22001C through 22025C, 22027C

MX-7-180C

28001C through 28027C

MX-7-235

10001C through 10122C

MX-7-420

13001C through 13003C

MXT-7-160

17001C through 17008C

MXT-7-180

14000C through 14125C

MXT-7-180A

21001C through 21096C

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-M7/4","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/ML-M7/4","content":"## AD/ML-M7/4","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's scope aligns with its stated purpose in the text: it targets identified Maule M‑7 series models/serials and mandates specific marking and a procedural caution to reduce reversed rigging risk (Applicability, Requirement 1–2, Background). There is no provision in the instrument that expands or narrows that scope beyond the listed aircraft, the described tasks, and the compliance timeframe."},"complexity_factors":["Wide applicability across many specific models and serial numbers increases administrative tracking (Applicability, Table 1).","Simple physical action (painting four control points) with low technical difficulty but safety‑critical outcomes if omitted (Requirement 1; Background).","Procedural change required to FAA‑approved maintenance/rigging program — requires authorised amendment and recordkeeping (Requirement 2).","Compliance timing ('before next cable disconnection or within 12 calendar months') may force scheduling or interim checks for some operators (Compliance).","Cross‑references to Maule Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30 and FAA AD 2008‑24‑02 create dependency on external documents for method and evidence of compliance (Requirement 1; Notes).","Reminder of additional obligations under Civil Aviation Regulation (1988) 42G can add further maintenance compliance steps when flight‑control parts are serviced (Note 1)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this directive requires operators to mark four elevator control points with yellow enamel and to add a cautionary check into the FAA‑approved rigging procedure (follow Maule Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30). It applies to many specified Maule M‑7 series aeroplanes by model and serial number (Applicability, Requirement 1–2). CASA says the measure is intended to reduce the risk of reversed elevator rigging after two reported accidents. Operators and maintenance providers must update manuals and carry out the marking within the stated compliance window (Compliance, Background)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard Airworthiness Directive with a focused, single-purpose scope: preventing reversed elevator rigging through visual marking and procedural warnings. The content remains tightly constrained to its original safety purpose without expansion into broader operational or maintenance requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive applicability table with 24 aircraft models and specific serial number ranges (some with gaps, e.g., '29001C, 29003C through 29007C')","Cross-reference to external technical document (Maule Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 30) without reproducing full content","Conditional compliance deadline ('whichever occurs first' logic)","Reference to underlying US FAA regulation (FAA AD 2008-24-02) and Civil Aviation Regulation 42G","Specific technical terminology requiring aviation maintenance knowledge (elevator control horns, rigging, cable ends)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates simple, mandatory changes to prevent reversed elevator rigging on certain Maule M-7 family aeroplanes: apply yellow paint to specific elevator control horn and cable attachment points and add a maintenance-manual caution to confirm elevators move UP when pulling back on the controls. \n\nIt affects about 24 Maule model/serial variants and must be done before any elevator cable disconnection or within 12 months—preventing accidents from backwards cable connections."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls","history":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-ml-m7-4-elevator-controls/documents"}}