Commonwealth legislation

AD/MU-2/43 - Autopilot/Electric Trim Switch Standardisation

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

5/10 complexity

Requires owners/operators of Mitsubishi MU‑2 aeroplanes fitted with Bendix M‑4C or M‑4D autopilots or Bendix electric pitch trim to carry out specified modifications or install a permanent cockpit placard, and to follow manufacturer service bulletins. It also bars coupled‑autopilot approaches below a stated speed/height. The rule targets operators, maintenance organisations and manufacturers who must schedule and pay for the work; it was issued in response to NTSB findings about pilot confusion with interrupt/disconnect switches.

JSON API

Deep dive

Want the full deep dive?

Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/MU-2/43 - Autopilot/Electric Trim Switch Standardisation.

AD/MU-2/43 - Autopilot/Electric Trim Switch Standardisation

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

View image in the official source
Mitsubishi MU-2 Series Aeroplanes

AD/MU-2/43 Autopilot/Electric Trim Switch Standardisation 13/89

Applicability: All models fitted with Bendix model M-4C or M-4D autopilots and/or Bendix electric trim system.

Requirement: 1a. For MU 2B-30 and -35 model aeroplanes manufactured under TC A2PC equipped with a Japanese Civil Airworthiness Board (JCAB) approved Bendix M-4C autopilot; action in accordance with MHI Service Bulletin No 206.

1b. For all other MU 2B model aeroplanes equipped with an FAA approved installation of the Bendix M-4C or M-4D autopilots; action in accordance with MHI SB No 066/22-006.

For MU 2B-35 and -36 model aeroplanes with Bendix autopilots installed in accordance with STC SA1693SW and MU 2B-35, -36A, and -60 model aeroplanes with Bendix M-4D autopilots installed in accordance with approved MAI data, fabricate and install a permanent red coloured placard in full view of the pilot using white coloured letters of a minimum of 0.10 inches in height which state:

“COUPLED AUTOPILOT APPROACHES BELOW 125 KIAS OR 300 FEET AGL NOT PERMITTED.”

Note 1: FAA AD 88-13-01 and JCAB AD TCD 2856-87 refer.

Note 2: The serial number of aeroplanes manufactured in the United States by Mitsubishi (MAI) under TC A10SW are suffixed by “SA”. The serial numbers of aeroplanes manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc (MHI) under TC A2PC have no suffix.

Compliance: Prior to 31 March 1990.

Background: This AD resulted from a request by the National Transportation Safety Board (US) who while investigating a number of fatal MU 2B accidents, concluded that pilots were becoming confused in the operation of the interrupt/disconnect switches for the electric pitch trim and autopilot systems.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 AD/MU-2/43 - Autopilot/Electric Trim Switch Standardisation