# AD 2003-16-51: Spar cap

- Type: Emergency airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau Duo-Discus
- Effective: August 20, 2003
- Published: August 20, 2003, 68 FR 50055–50056
- Issued: August 7, 2003
- Issued as: Final rule; request for comments
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Glider
- Amendment: 39-13282
- Docket: 2003-CE-33-AD
- Registered aircraft: 29 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- Official PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/b4/2c/b42c1c0084da3dfa5d5a04004d4a0bff5b2eb481570e2828e3af6d9860941095 (from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2003-08-20/pdf/03-21152.pdf)
- Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/08/20/03-21152/airworthiness-directives-schempp-hirth-flugzeugbau-gmbh-model-duo-discus-gliders
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/BDD4D93F8CB4F33786256D880057ADED.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 21, 2025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2003-16-51

## Summary

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-16-51, which was published in the Federal Register on August 20, 2003 (68 FR 50055), and applies to certain Schempp-Hirth (SCHEMPP-HIRTH) Flugzeugbau GmbH Model Duo-Discus gliders. We inadvertently omitted certain regulatory text in 14 CFR part 39. This action corrects the regulatory text.

## The airworthiness directive

On page 50056, in § 39.13 [Amended], in the third column, add the words “Amendment 39-13282; “ after “GmbH:”

Action is taken herein to correct this reference in AD 2003-16-51 and to add this AD correction to § 39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13).

The effective date remains August 20, 2003.

## Rule preamble

### Effective date

The effective date of this AD remains August 20, 2003.

### For further information contact

Gregory Davidson, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

### Discussion

On August 12, 2003, FAA issued AD 2003-16-51, Amendment 39-13282 (68 FR 50055, August 20, 2003), which applies to certain SCHEMPP-HIRTH Model Duo-Discus gliders. This AD requires you to accomplish a one-time inspection of the bonding of the spar cap and spar web, and repair any defective bonding of the spar cap and spar web.

### Need for the Correction

The FAA inadvertently omitted Amendment 39-13282 in the regulatory portion of the AD (in 14 CFR part 39).

The information is included in the preamble of the AD. The amendment number is needed for appropriate logbook entry for the affected airplane owners/operators if the preamble of the AD is not available.

### Correction of Publication

Accordingly, the publication of August 20, 2003 (68 FR 50055), of Amendment 39-13282; AD 2003-16-51, is corrected as follows:

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS G85EU](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/G85EU): Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH; names 1 of 1 models: Duo Discus

## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs)

Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment.

- Aircraft: 29 (29 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau 29

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-flugzeugbau-duo-discus): 29 aircraft (airframe model)

All 2 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2003-16-51/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2003-16-51/aircraft.md

No proposed rule in this release led to it. Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR18FA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA247), Sep 2, 2018: Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus T (N22XC), New Washoe City, NV, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed recovery from an inadvertent spin and/or spiral dive and an exceedance of the glider’s design limit load during recovery, which resulted in an overload failure of both wings.

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