SAIB CE-03-59R1 —

1 REVISED SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. CE-03-59R1 December 2, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at www.airweb.faa.gov This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Revised Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, an owner or operator of the SCHEMPP-HIRTH models listed below, that the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) issued Airworthiness Directives (AD) 2003-265 and 2003-266, both dated September 16, 2003. These ADs called for the immediate grounding of the indicated sailplanes until further notice. The LBA has now issued revised Airworthiness Directives 2003-265/2 and 2003-266/2. These revised airworthiness directives contain references to Schempp-Hirth technical information that, according to the LBA, can be utilized to return the gliders to an airworthy condition.

Model Serial Number Discus b 551 up to 554, 568, 569, 571 up to 573, 575 and 577 Discus bT 77, 106, 146, 151 up to 154, 156, 158, 161 and 162 Discus CS 1CS up to 308CS

Note: The Discus CS and Discus bT sailplanes are not type certificated in the U.S.

Background The LBA has reported an in-flight failure of a Discus CS wing structure. Initial analysis indicates failure in the bonding of the wing spar cap and spar web. In addition, SCHEMPP-HIRTH has identified potential bonding concerns of the wing spar cap and spar web on specified Discus b and Discus bT sailplanes. Failure of the bonding, if not detected and corrected, could result in an in-flight separation of the wing from the glider. A production defect cannot be excluded as a probable cause.

Recommendation The FAA strongly recommends that, effective immediately, registered owners of SCHEMPP-HIRTH Models Discus b, Discus bT, and Discus CS with above stated serial numbers ground their sailplanes until further notice. Alternately, owners can obtain information from Schempp-Hirth and accomplish the required inspections and repairs. Contact Schempp-Hirth at the address stated in this bulletin.

We are providing this information as a courtesy to owners and operators as we do not issue ADs for gliders that do not have a U.S. type certificate. Use of the manufacturer's information to return these gliders to service is up to the owners of these affected aircraft.

2 For Further Information Contact Gregory Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; phone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090; email [email protected]

SCHEMPP-HIRTH Flugzeugbau GmbH, Postfach 1443, 73222 Kircheim/Teck, Federal Republic of Germany; phone: 49 7021 7298-0; fax: 49 7021 7298-199.