SAIB CE-04-49

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

CE-04-49 January 23, 2004 www.faa.gov - Search "SAIBs" This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of CENTRAIR 101 gliders, all models and all serial numbers, that DIRECTION GENERALE DE L’AVIATION CIVILE (DGAC) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-042(A) dated February 5, 2003. The DGAC AD and CENTRAIR Service Bulletin (SB) 101-20 require replacement of the forward wheel fork fittings on the stationary landing gear with reinforced fittings.

Background

CENTRAIR reported cracks on the forward wheel fork fittings of the stationary landing gear, part number $Y123A. The cracks may result from maneuvers occurring in airfields with poor conditions.

These cracks could lead to the collapse of the landing gear, which could lead to loss of control during take off or landing.

The DGAC AD requires replacing part number (P/N) $Y123A, with reinforced fork fittings P/Ns $Y123B and $Y123C at the next annual check or within 6 months.

Recommendation

We recommend that you accomplish the actions SB No. 101-20. We’ve attached the SB for information and details.

For Further Information Contact

Carrie Beach, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4140; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; email carrie.beach@faa.gov

Société Nouvelle CENTRAIR, Aérodrome – 36300 LE BLANC, FRANCE; phone 33.2.54.37.07.96;

fax: 33.2.54.37.48.64.

Fax émis par : 33 02 54 37 48 64 SN CENTRAIR 10/09/03 15:25 Pg: 9/13

SERVICE BULLETIN N° 101-20 CENTRAIR 101 GLIDERS Société Nouvelle Centrair Fixed wheel all serial numbers Page 1/1 Ce document est la propriété de S.N. CENTRAIR et ne peut être reproduit ou communiqué sans son autorisation SUBJECT : FRONT BRACKETS OF FIXED WHEEL UNDERCARRIAGE SAILPLANES AFFECTED : PEGASE gliders all serial numbers equipped with fixed undercarriage. PEGASE gliders whose minor modification 101-14 has been embodied (gliders equipped with brackets $Y123B or $Y123C in place of brackets $Y123A) are not affected.

PURPOSE : Avoid the eventual cracks starts in case of operation on airfield in bad condition.

TIME OF COMPLIANCE : Next annual inspection and at the latest 6 months after the issue of the present Service Bulletin DESCRIPTION :

Some cases of cracks on the front brackets of fixed undercarriage have been discovered on gliders in operation on airfields in bad condition.

According to the difficulty of analysis in this part of the glider, during annual or general inspections, We require to proceed to the following operations :

Replacement of the 2 brackets $Y123A by reinforced brackets $Y123C And this, in order to avoid any eventual problem relative to the evolution of an eventual crack not discovered during the inspections programs.

After replacement of these brackets, notify in the log book of the glider the application of the minor modification N° 101-14 (reinforced bracket front fixed wheel).

PS: These brackets will be available at SN CENTRAIR from the 30th of September CENT63-1b 1999.

Translation of "bulletin de service". In case of any difficultty, reference should be made to the French original issue.

Société Nouvelle CENTRAIR Approval of the French original Issue Aérodrome - 36300 LE BLANC Impérative FRANCE 13/09/1999 _ Recommanded Tél : 02.54.37.07.96 - Fax : 02.54.37.48.64 - For information 2