Flight Controls: Elevator Control Bearing Stand

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FAA Aircraft Certification Service SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: CE-10-03 SUBJ: Flight Controls: Elevator Control Bearing Stand Date: October 7, 2009 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) informs you of an airworthiness concern on Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau Model DG-100G sailplanes, serial numbers 5 and 21 through 103.

Background In 1978, DG-Flugzeugbau issued Technical Note No. 301/6, which recommended an inspection of the elevator control bearing stand RU19 for correct production. SAIB No. ACE-98-19 was issued by the FAA to address this concern. In 2009, an accident occurred with a DG-100. The suspension bolt was found torn out of the bearing stand making the elevator uncontrollable. An investigation confirmed that the bearing stand had not been produced correctly. It is therefore assumed that the inspection per TN 301/6 did not produce reliable results. As a consequence, DG Flugzeugbau has issued Technical Note No. 301/26, which recommends a before-further-flight inspection and possible replacement of the bearing stand with a reinforced version. This condition, if not corrected, may lead to loss of control of the sailplane.

TheEuropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive No. 2009-0163-E, dated July 29, 2009. This AD requires a before-further-flight inspection and possible replacement of the elevator control bearing stand RU19.

Recommendations

These sailplanes are not type certificated in the United States and, therefore, the condition is not addressed by FAA AD action.

We recommend all owners and operators comply with actions outlined in DG Flugzeugbau Technical Note No. 301/26.

For Further Information Contact

Gregory Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected]

2 For Related Service Information Contact

DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH Otto Lilienthal Weg 2 / Am Flugplatz 76646 Bruchsal Germany Phone: +49 7251 3020-0 Fax: +49 7251 3020-200 Email: http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/index-e.html