# AD 76-11-03: Tow Release Mechanism

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau Standard-Cirrus
- Effective: June 10, 1976
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Glider
- Amendment: 39-2626
- Registered aircraft: 65 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/3310E36BB3A87E4986256A38005B1D0B.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-11-03

## The airworthiness directive

76-11-03 SCHEMPP HIRTH and BURKHART GROB: Amendment 39-2626. Applies to Standard Cirrus gliders certificated in all categories, Serial Numbers 1 through 604 for Schempp Hirth and Serial Numbers 1G through 200G for Burkhart Grob.

Compliance is required as indicated, unless already accomplished.

To prevent possible tow release lever jamming and consequent crashing of the glider during a winch launch, accomplish the following:

  (a) Within the next 10 flights after the effective date of this AD, visually inspect the clearance between the tow release lever and the occupied pilot seat by performing a functional inspection of the operation of the tow release mechanism. If the occupied seat interferes with the operation of the tow release mechanism, before further flight, comply with paragraph (c) of this AD.

  (b) Within the next 50 flights after the effective date of this AD, unless earlier compliance is required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this AD, comply with paragraph (c) of this AD.

  (c) Reinforce the pilot seat in accordance with steps 2 and 3 of the paragraph entitled "Instructions" of Schempp Hirth Technical Note 278-18, dated December 8, 1975, or an FAA-approved equivalent, except that the minimum overall depth of the stiffening material used under step 2b should be 1/3 its width.

This amendment becomes effective June 10, 1976.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS G23EU](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/G23EU): Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH; names 1 of 1 models: Standard-Cirrus

## 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: 65 (65 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Schempp-Hirth 64, Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-standard-cirrus): 64 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau STANDARD CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-standard-cirrus): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 2 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-11-03/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-11-03/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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