Passenger/Crew Doors: Liberty Aerospace Inc. XL-2

FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: CE-10-16 SUBJ: Passenger/Crew Doors: Liberty Aerospace Inc. XL-2 Date: February 9, 2010 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of Liberty Aerospace, Inc. Model XL-2 airplanes, of an issue concerning the passenger/crew doors.

At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background

There have been six occurrences of a door opening in-flight on Liberty XL-2 airplanes. In all six cases, the pilot has been able to land the airplane safely and there is evidence the door was not properly latched before takeoff.

The two passenger/crew entrance doors on the XL-2 are gull wing type doors with hinges on the top edge of the doors. If a door is not properly closed and latched prior to flight, the airflow during flight could cause the door to open. The open door could separate from the airplane and could cause damage to the airplane empennage or injure someone on the ground.

Liberty Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December 15, 2009, to provide a new rear tapered door pin for each door and to publish airplane flight manual (AFM) revisions. The new rear tapered door pin will allow for easier latching of the door. The AFM revisions include additional notes and warnings in the checklists for the pilot to check the engagement of both the front and rear door pins in their receptacles before takeoff.

Recommendation

We encourage owners and maintenance personnel to have the new rear door pin installed on their Model XL-2 airplane in accordance with Liberty Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December 15, 2009, at the next scheduled maintenance event. We also recommend that an updated AFM be onboard the airplane as soon as possible.

For Further Information Contact

Cindy Lorenzen, Program Manager, FAA, Central Region, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone (404)474-5524; fax (404)474-5606; email: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

Contact Liberty Aerospace for a copy of the service bulletin and AFM revision for your airplane at 321-752-0332 or use your owner login on Liberty’s website, www.libertyaircraft.com, to download the information, or email [email protected]. 1