AD 2020-26-14 Requires Modification And Repetitive Inspections Of The PPC Lever Linkage

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 75-16-20, which applied to all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Model MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, and MU-2B-36 airplanes.

AD 75-16-20 required repetitive inspections of the propeller pitch control (PPC) lever for security and proper rigging. This AD requires modification and repetitive inspections of the PPC lever linkage. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective February 2, 2021.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 75-16-20, Amendment 39-2294 (40 FR 31751, July 29, 1975) (AD 75-16-20). AD 75-16-20 applied to all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Mitsubishi) Models MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, and MU-2B-36 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2020 (85 FR 52281). The NPRM was prompted by reports of the PPC lever linkages disconnecting at the engine and Mitsubishi developing a secondary retention feature to secure the PPC. The NPRM was also prompted by Mitsubishi type certificating additional airplanes that are subject to the unsafe condition. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require installation of the secondary retention feature, repetitive inspections of the PPC lever linkage, and reporting inspection results to the FAA.

FMI: www.regulations.gov