SAIB CE-03-16

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration CE-03-16 January 6, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) provides safety information to Schempp- Hirth Model Nimbus-3/24.5, all serial numbers, sailplane owners on the following:

• Extension of Service Life to 12,000 hours, and

• Supplementing the Maintenance Manual with a special multi-stage inspection program.

Background Schempp-Hirth has developed Technical Note No. 286-34 that extends the service life and supplements the Maintenance Manual. We have attached the applicable service information.

Safety Issue The German Airworthiness Authority, Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, has issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-357, requiring compliance of this Technical Note. The FAA does not issue ADs for extension of service life.

General Information We are providing this information as a courtesy to operators of the Schempp-Hirth Model Nimbus- 3/24. We do not issue ADs for sailplanes that do not have a U.S. type certificate. The FAA will not track or enforce this issue. Furthermore, the FAA will not use an SAIB to track all safety related items for non-type certificated products.

For Technical Information Concerning These Safety Issues Contact Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH, Postfach 14 43, D-73222 Kirchheim/Tech, Federal Republic of Germany; Telephone 49.7021.7298-0; Facsimile 49.7021.7298-199.

Further Information Contact Tom Knauff, United States Schempp-Hirth Dealer, 3523 South Eagle Valley Road, Jullian, PA 16844; Telephone (814) 355-2483; Facsimile (814) 355-2633 Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone (816) 329-4144; Facsimile (816) 329-4090, email;

mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SCHEMPP-HIRTH Technical Note Blatt: 01 Flugzeugbau GmbH. Kirchheim/Teck No. 286-34 Blattz.: 02 SUBJECT: a) Extension of the service time

b) Supplements of the Maintenance Manual AFFECTED: Sailplane model „Nimbus-3/24.5 (ATC-No. 286)

- all serial numbers - URGENCY: On reaching a service time of 6000 flight hours, but not later than on the occasion of the next annual inspection.

REASON: a) The results of fatigue tests (subsequently carried out on wing spar sections) have demonstrated that the time in service of GFRP / CFRP sailplanes may be extended to 12000 hours, provided the airworthiness of each individual aircraft is evidenced by a special multi-stage inspection program, which is then to be incorporated into the Maintenance Manual.

b) Facilitation of maintenance by supplementing the Maintenance Manual.

ACTIONS: Revisions of the Maintenance Manual (revised pages dated September 2002) Page Title 2/3 - Record of revisions 1 - Table of contents 17A - Play in the tailplane attachment fitting 22 - Hinge moments and weights of control surfaces 32 - Special inspections of the airframe 32A - Special inspections of the airframe Note:

Whenever one of the various limits in service time is reached, an inspection is to be conducted according to an „Inspection program for extending the service time" which may be obtained from the manufacturer.

12 2

SCHEMPP-HIRTH Technical Note Blatt: 02 Flugzeugbau GmbH. Kirchheim/Teck No. 286-34 Blattz.: 02 MATERIAL: Not affected WEIGHT: Not affected C/G POSITION: Not affected Note: Accomplishment of action to be checked and entered in the log book by a licensed inspector.

Kirchheim/Teck, September 23, 2002 LBA-approved:

The german original of this Technical Note has been approved by the upper the date ... 2002

and is signed by MrBlume

1 vector The translation into English has been done by Issued: best knowledge and judgement.

(H. Treiber) 3

Blatt-Nr. 08 page Durchgeführt complied Übersicht über Schempp-Hirth Technische Mitteilungen und LBA-Lufttüchtigkeitsanweisungen Kennzeichen: REGISTRATION NO.: Termin Urgency Beim Erreichen von 6000 Flug- stunden, spätestens bei der nächsten Jahresnachprüfung On reaching a service time of 6000 flight hours, but not later than on the occasion of the next annual inspection.

SUMMARY OF SCHEMPP-HIRTH TECHNICAL NOTES AND LBA-AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Werk-Nr.: S/N:

Muster/Baureihe: MODEL/VARIANT: Gegenstand Subject Erhöhung der Betriebszeit auf 12.000 Stunden Extension of service time up to 12.000 hours 286 Baureihen und Werk-Nr. - alle Werknummern - - all serial numbers - Kennblatt-Nr. DATA SHEET betrifft Model affected: S/N Nimbus-3/24.5 Nimbus-2 TM-Nr. Ausgabe Datum TN-No date of issue 286-34 23.09.2002 Vuster : MODEL _ BA-LTA-Nr. Ausgabe Datum LBA-AD-No. Date of issue 2002-357 14.11.2002 4

Technical Note No. 286-34 0. The mandatory annual inspection is no t affected by this regulation. the records must be sent to the manufacturer for evaluation. If the inspections are carried out by a certified repair station, a copy of 5. Therests of the sane teque are ee respect in an inspection report, Nimber: 3/24.5 - 32A - September 2002 MAINTENANCE MANUAL Technical Note No. 286-34 4. Te ine repair stato only be accomplished by the manufacturer of by a Flugzeugbau GmbH. 3. The relevant inspection program may be obtained from Schompp-Hirth hour inspection - to 12.000 hours (fourth step). spection to 11.000 hours (third step), and finally - after another 1000 1000 hours to 10.000 hours (second step) after a further 1000 hours in have been duly repaired, the time in service may be exlended by another If the results of this inspection are satisfactory or if any defects found (or the powered sailplane) has reached a service time of 9000 hours. The afore-said inspection program must be repeated when the sailplane (first step). sailplane) is extended by another 3000 hours to a total of 9000 hours have been duly repaired, the service time of the sailplane (or powered If the results of this inspection are satisfactory or if any defects found inspection program mentioned under item 3 further below. time of 6000 hours, an inspection must be done in accordance with the When the sailplane (or the powered sailplane) has reached a service 2. Dates program, particularly with regard to the service life. worthiness is demonstrated according to a special multi-step inspection dividual aircraft (in addition to the obligatory annual inspections) the air- and powered sailplanes may be extended to 12.000 hours, it for each in- tions have demonstrated that the service time of GFRP/OFRP sailplanes The results of fatigue tests subsequently carried out on wing spar sec- 1. General Inspection program for the extension of the service time Special inspections of the airframe Nimbus-3/24.5 - 32 - September 2002 MAINTENANCE MANUAL

Technical Nole No. 286-34 tolerance. balance is permissible up to 15%, provided the residual moment within the Excoeding the value in the above weight table because of additional mass existing mass balance. component (if there was no mass balance attached) or near or next Aller complete ropainting - distributed along the whole length of the whole length (if possible) After refinishing in the refinished area distributed along its After repair work in the area of the repair. add an addilional balance weight forward of the hinge line as follows: If the valucs of the table on page 21 are exceeded, it will be necessary to Nimbus 3/24.5 - 22- September 2002 MAINTENANCE MANUAL Technical Note No. 286-34 Nimbus-3/24.5 ELEVATOR ACTUATING BRACKET its locating pins. tightened such (using a 4mm Allen key) that the tailplane will just slide onto then the adjustable bushings of the elevator actuating bracket should be If an excessive vertical play is found at the lips of the horizontal stabilizer, Play in the tailplane attachment bracket - 17A - September 2002 (only spare parts) on lower side hexagonal bolts MAINTENANCE MANUAL 9

16. 15. 14. 13. 12. No. Nimbus 3/24.5 Manual b) Supplements of the Maintenance service limo up to 12.000 hours a) Inspection program for extending the Technical Note No, 286-34 (lateral control, fin/rudder unit) Modifications on S/N 37 only Modification Bulletin No. 286-27 (optional) Wing tip extensions for 25.5 m span Technical Notc No. 280-27 Tow release: „F 85" and „G 88" Technical Note No. 286-26 Optional tit-up instrument panel Lechnical Noto No, 286-29 Relerence/short fille (log of revisions) AMENDMENT LIST - 2/3 - 22, 32, 32A 2002 September 1, 17A, 1998 35 21, January 15A, 25, 26 1990 16A, 21, March 10. 1990 12, 20 February 1989 12, 20A April Page Date MAINTENANCE MANUAL Technical Note No. 286-34 Repair procedures for a CRP/FRP-sailplane Optimum airspeeds and flap settings Polar diagram Appendix Control circuits Electrical wiring diagram Special inspeclions of the airframe Cockpit placards and symbols Equipment list Center of gravity determination 2.10 Caring for a CRP/FRP sailplane 2.9 Control surface moments and weights 2.8 Removal & re-installation of tow hook Replacement the wing locating bearings 2.7 2.6 Damage Play in the tailplane attachment fitting 2.5 Play in the wing attachment fittings 2.4 Play in the control circuits 2.3 Adjustment Data Regular Maintenance 2.2 2.1 Prescribed Checks Maintenance De-rigging 1.3 Rigging 1.2 Storage, Hangaring & Towing 1.1 Storage, Transport & Rigging Amendment List Table of contents Nimbus-3/24.5 September 2002 34 33 32A 32 30 27 25 24 21 MAINTENANCE MANUAL Page

- 2/3 -

MAINTENANCE MANUAL Nimbus-3/24.5

AMENDMENT LIST (log of revisions) No. Reference/short title Page Date

12. Technical Note No. 286-25 Optional tilt-up instrument panel 12,20A April 1989

13. Technical Note No, 286-26 Tow releases „E 85" and „G 88" 12,20 February 1990

14. Technical Note No. 286-27 Wing tip extensions for 25.5 m span 25,26 10, 16A, 21, March 1990 (optional)

15. Modification Bulletin No. 286-27 (lateral control, fin/rudder unit) Modifications on S/N 37 only 121. 35 16A. January 1998

16. Technical Note No. 286-34

a) Inspection program for extending the service time up to 12.000 hours 22, 32, 32A 1, 17A, 2002 September

b) Supplements of the Maintenance Manual