AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
Cessna 120 · Airworthiness Directives
Overview
This document is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia concerning the Cessna 120 and 140 series aeroplanes. It outlines necessary actions to address safety concerns related to the forward door posts of these aircraft models. The directive mandates inspections for cracks in specific areas of the door posts and prescribes actions based on the findings of these inspections. The document is crucial for maintaining airworthiness and ensuring the safety of operations for affected aircraft.
- Inspect forward door posts for cracks, especially at the flange section and below the rivet cluster.
- Repair cracks up to 0.75 inches in length by stop drilling; replace door posts if cracks exceed this length.
- Compliance required within 100 hours or 12 months from 15 May 2003, whichever comes first.
- Ongoing inspections required at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until later type door posts are installed.
- This directive is effective from 15 May 2003.
Document
Source
Originally published by services.casa.gov.au. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type
- Airworthiness Directives
- Year
- 2003
- Pages
- 1
- File size
- 20 KB
- Publisher
- services.casa.gov.au
Common. One of the most common aircraft types we track.
Most owners only have the POH. Here's the essential set for the Cessna 120.
- Pilot's Operating Handbook / AFM
- Checklist
- Maintenance Manual
- Parts Catalog (IPC)
- Systems & Wiring
- Service Bulletins
- Type Certificate (TCDS)
Cessna 120 for sale now
Free — save the 120 to your watchlist and track it in one place.
More Cessna 120manuals & documents
See all 22 →- Advisory Circular AC21-1 Appendix 2Type Certificate
- HARTZELL PROPELLER SERVICE LETTER INDEX - August 13, 2025Airworthiness Directives
- IFS DOCUMENTATION – Cy48r1Normal Procedures
- Airworthiness Directive Schedule Aeroplanes Cessna 120Service Bulletins
- Business Jet Traveler Buyers’ Guide 2022Training Manual
- AAIB Bulletin: 8/2022Service Bulletins
- Model 1500 Ski Installation Procedure: Cessna 120, 140 & 140AFlight Manual
- AVIATION CATALOG AV-14Service Bulletins
- An Aircraft Owner’s Guide to Operating and Maintaining your AircraftType Certificate
- BULLETIN OF YALE UNIVERSITY Series 108 Number 6 July 20, 2012Service Bulletins
- AAIB Bulletin No: 4/2004Maintenance Manual
- AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVEAirworthiness Directives
If you fly the Cessna 120, you may also be researching these.
In this document
Applicability
The Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to Cessna 120 and 140 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 8001 to 8799. This section identifies the aircraft models that are subject to the inspection and compliance requirements outlined in the directive.
Requirement
The directive requires a thorough inspection of the forward door posts for cracks, particularly focusing on the flange section leading to the instrument panel and the area below the rivet cluster at the top of the post. If cracks are found, specific repair or replacement actions must be taken before further flight.
Compliance
Compliance with the directive is required within 100 hours of time in service or within 12 months from the effective date of 15 May 2003, whichever comes first. After initial compliance, inspections must continue at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until the later type door posts are installed.
Background
The background section explains that the FAA has mandated inspections of the forward door posts until revised posts are installed, highlighting the importance of this directive in maintaining safety standards.
Safety notes
- Failure to comply with inspection and repair requirements may lead to unsafe conditions affecting flight safety.
Full document text
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Page 1 of 1 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section. Cessna 120 and 140 Series Aeroplanes AD/CESSNA 120/8 Forward Door Posts 5/2003 Applicability: Model 120 and 140 aircraft, serial numbers 8001 through 8799. Requirement: Inspect the forward door posts for cracks, particularly the flange section leading from the post to the instrument panel at the base of the windshield, and the post itself below the rivet cluster at the top. Remove all the inside fairings attached to the post to permit a thorough inspection. Following inspection, before further flight, repair cracks in the flange section that do not exceed 0.75- inch in length by stop drilling. If cracks exceed 0.75- inch in length in the flange or if any cracks are evident in the door post structure itself, before further flight, replace the door post with the Cessna later type post, part numbers 0411867-2 and 0411867-3, in accordance with the installation instructions supplied by Cessna. Note: FAA AD 47-06-11 and Cessna Service Letter No. 20 refer. Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service or within 12 months after 15 May 2003, whichever occurs first. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service, until later type door posts are installed. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 May 2003. Background: The FAA requires inspection of the forward door posts until revised posts are installed. David Alan Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 April 2003 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 April 2003.
What's in the Cessna 120 TCDS
A Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) is the FAA's record of what an aircraft type was approved as. It is the source of truth for weights, seating, fuel and the rules the design was certified against. Expand any line to see what it means.
414 Cessna 120 parts for sale
See all →





Parts listed for sale by vetted eBay sellers — confirmed on eBay at checkout.




