Narrative:

Airworthiness directive 73-21-01 was stopped from compliance by myself in 2002 after reading the sb (service bulletin). The aircraft is a mooney, M20F, and came from factory with retractable gear. The airworthiness directive references sb M20-55 which doesn't apply by serial number, M20-35A does not apply by model number, and M20-32 by my reading under subject does not apply since it was never converted. After FAA records inspection we have done the airworthiness directive and will do at required intervals. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the airworthiness directive covered early model mooney aircraft that were not equipped with retractable landing gear and later had it added. The reporter said later on the mooney maintenance manual had the airworthiness directive incorporated into the landing gear inspection with no note that this check was the airworthiness directive. The reporter stated the check was accomplished even though the service bulletin exempted this model aircraft. The reporter said he is going to the investigation hearing with the paperwork for some explanation.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MOONEY M20F WAS RELEASED FOR SVC AFTER ANNUAL INSPECTION. FAA CONTENDS A REQUIRED AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 73-21-01 WAS STOPPED FROM COMPLIANCE BY MYSELF IN 2002 AFTER READING THE SB (SVC BULLETIN). THE ACFT IS A MOONEY, M20F, AND CAME FROM FACTORY WITH RETRACTABLE GEAR. THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE REFS SB M20-55 WHICH DOESN'T APPLY BY SERIAL NUMBER, M20-35A DOES NOT APPLY BY MODEL NUMBER, AND M20-32 BY MY READING UNDER SUBJECT DOES NOT APPLY SINCE IT WAS NEVER CONVERTED. AFTER FAA RECORDS INSPECTION WE HAVE DONE THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AND WILL DO AT REQUIRED INTERVALS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COVERED EARLY MODEL MOONEY ACFT THAT WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH RETRACTABLE LNDG GEAR AND LATER HAD IT ADDED. THE RPTR SAID LATER ON THE MOONEY MAINT MANUAL HAD THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE INCORPORATED INTO THE LNDG GEAR INSPECTION WITH NO NOTE THAT THIS CHK WAS THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE. THE RPTR STATED THE CHK WAS ACCOMPLISHED EVEN THOUGH THE SVC BULLETIN EXEMPTED THIS MODEL ACFT. THE RPTR SAID HE IS GOING TO THE INVESTIGATION HEARING WITH THE PAPERWORK FOR SOME EXPLANATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.