Service Bulletin Compliance

[BigTex]

After having some issues with my compass, I went back and confirmed that SB M20-150A was not complied with. This Service Bulletin was issued back in 1968 and was classified as "Mandatory" and had a compliance requirement to be done with by the planes next annual or 100 hour inspection.

My question is what's everyone's thoughts on complying with Service Bulletins? Do you do only the ones that have an associated AD? In my case, this so called "Mandatory" SB was ignored for 44 years.

[DonMuncy]

Us ordinary mortals are not obligated to comply with SBs, no matter how mandatory they appear to be. Only when and AD is issued. The guys who fly for hire are different.

[fantom]

Us ordinary mortals are not obligated to comply with SBs, no matter how mandatory they appear to be. Only when and AD is issued. The guys who fly for hire are different.

Exactly....SB's are not mandatory.

After 44 years of not compliance, I would think you're safe

[BigTex]

I'm safe as long as I don't need my compass

Even though there's nothing that's requiring us to comply with SB's do most make an effort to make sure they comply?

[danb35]

It's hard to say what "most" do, but I suspect it's to treat SBs on a case-by-case basis. SB 208, for example, is generally treated as important; some others not so much.

[Lionudakis]

SB are not FAA mandatory, Manufacturers label most SB mandatory to pass the liability off of them.

[carusoam]

From a practical point of view....

0) In the beginning there was the "reliable" compass. A pilot needed to look at it each time he adjusted the heading of his aircraft. Nearly all of the time navigating was spent looking at the compass.

1) in the last 50 years, The DG nearly put the compass on the ropes. Adjust the DG heading to the compass every 15 minutes.

2) in the last 40 years, The HSI with an internal compass correction made looking at the compass a strategy for error detection. Check heading on HSI Prior to taxi to verify the operation of the HSI.

3) in the last 30 years, Loran made the compass somewhat more obsolete. if the compass broke it could be found somewhere near the panel, if the pilot could remember where it was last mounted. Compasses had a visible air bubble in them at that time.

4) in the last 20 years, GPS made Loran look like a Radio Shack TRS 80 computer with a giant floppy disk. The compass air bubble (CAB) was visibly larger as well.

5) in the last 10 years, More than one certified GPS in the cockpit, running from independent power supplies, and/or battery back up made single GPSs obsolete.

SBs that are 40 years old, that rely on hokie demagnitization techniques, are good to have, so, when you are training for the IFR rating, using the compass to demonstrate your skills, you can show your instructor your position on the globe, by how much the compass lags or leads, your turn to certain headings...

There is also a question on the written that covers that topic as well.

On my M20C, the compass lived in the shadow of a metal tube, making long, compass based, turns nearly impossible.

Expect to pay a lot to be able to fix the compass to perfect condition, or consider purchasing another GPS with it,s own set of batteries.

Emergency navigation in and around NJ...

If lost with only an operating compass for navigation, fly Eastish until you reach a large body of water (Atlantic Ocean)..

- If the air is warm, turn left.

- If the air is cold turn right.

Airports will appear in the windshield.

Characterize these statements as usable humor....if you would be so kind.

Thank you and best regards,

-a-

[yvesg]

lmfao carusoam!

Yves

C-FQKM

[OR75]

complying with an SB is not mandatory. However, having a compass with the proper "correction" card is mandatory. Should be checked at annual inspections.