so this is why i am hung up and confused. as stated above by MikeOH (the wood itself didn't scare me, but finding a competent wood A&P did!). that being said with the small amount of reading i have done i have decided i am to chicken to fly one with a wood tail. but if you look at mooney service bulletin number: M20-170A Dated 2/24/69 https://mooney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SBM20-170A.pdf states that immediate compliance is required. installation of a metal empennage is mandatory within one year. but if you look at AD 86-19-10 also posted above by MikeOH https://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/0/33BA96B4A3AD098A86256A57006692E3?OpenDocument it has an effective date of october 6 1986 and my interpretation of it is that it is just an inspection of the wood tail i see nothing requiring it to be replaced by metal? so i guess my question what is the difference between a mooney service bulletin and an AD? i would think if the service bulletin was followed when released in 69 there would be no reason for AD 86-19-10 released in 86? so did they retract the mooney service bulletin? at the end of the day it doesent really matter because I would want it changed to metal for my piece of mind. justified or not. my delima is i found a 1960 M20a sitting in a hangar here in SW KS that I think looks pretty good. granted I know NOTHING AT ALL about the wood wing. I know most would probably argue that i would be way better off just buying a later all metal mooney but I hate to see this bird just sit there and rot. I guess i an trying to figure out if it is at all even thinkable for me to get it back in the air. or if not me if someone here looking for a project could get it flying or if it is so far gone it is just doomed to sit there forever....