Airworthiness Directives; Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Airplanes

We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-15-18 that applies to certain Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Models M-4, M-5, M- 6, M-7, MT-7, MX-7, MXT-7, and M-8 airplanes that are equipped with rear wing lift struts, part number (P/N) 2079E, and/or front wing lift struts, P/N 2080E. AD 98-15-18 required repetitively inspecting certain wing lift struts for internal corrosion and replacing of any wing lift strut where corrosion was found. Since we issued AD 98-15-18, we were informed by the manufacturer that Model MXT-7-420 airplanes are no longer in existence, are no longer type certificated, and should be removed from the Applicability section. We were also informed that paragraph (b) in AD 98-15-18 had been misinterpreted and caused confusion. This AD removes Model MXT-7-420 airplanes from the Applicability section and clarifies the intent of the language in paragraph (b) of AD 98-15-18. This AD also retains all other requirements of AD 98-15-18. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.