The bulletin
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FAA Aircraft Certification Service
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: CE-07-32 SUBJ: Wing Spar Caps Date: April 26, 2007 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin informs you of an airworthiness concern of all variants of DG Flugzeugbau Model DG 300 sailplanes. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued emergency airworthiness directive (AD) number 2007-0100-E, dated April 12, 2007, and corrected April 13, 2007, for those sailplanes registered for operation in Europe. That AD is based on DG Flugzeugbau Technical Note No. 359/24, which was EASA approved on April 11, 2007.
Background
During the execution of a major repair on a DG 300 sailplane, a manufacturing defect in the wing spar caps was found. Severe undulation of the glass fiber rovings have resulted in EASA issuing the above-referenced AD, which requires an immediate reduction in the operating limitations until further notice. With these undulations, an adequate factor of safety during full operation is not ensured. Strength tests have been performed with the undulations resulting in determined reductions of the operating limitations that enable safe operation of all DG 300’s without repair of the spar caps.
These sailplanes are not type certificated in the United States and, therefore, the condition is not addressed by FAA AD action. However, these sailplanes could be operating in the United States with an experimental airworthiness certificate or other means.
Recommendations
We recommend any DG 300 sailplane operating in the United States have the actions outlined in DG Flugzeugbau Technical Note No. 359/24 incorporated.
For Further Information Contact
Gregory Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; Telephone: (816) 329-4130; Fax: (816) 329-4090; Email: Gregory.Davison@faa.gov
For Related Service Information Contact
DG Flugzeugbau GmbH; Otto Lilienthal Weg 2; 76646 Bruchsal; Telephone: 011 49 7251 3020 0 Fax: 011 49 7251 3020 200; Email: design@dg-flugzeugbau.de; Website: http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/