AD for DG gliders

[stephen northcraft]

ACTION:

Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain DG Aviation GmbH (type certificate previously held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Model DG-400 gliders and all Model DG-500 Elan Orion, DG-500 Elan Trainer, DG-500/20 Elan, DG-500/22 Elan, DG-500M, DG-500MB, DG-800A, DG-800B, DG-808C, DG-1000M, DG-1000S, and DG-1000T gliders. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken rod end at the upper end of the elevator pushrod in the fin (vertical tail) of a DG Aviation GmbH Model DG-300 glider. Depending on the glider model, this AD requires revising your existing glider maintenance manual to incorporate new procedures for elevator control circuit free play adjustment, performing an operational check of the free play adjustment of the automatic elevator hook-up, accomplishing corrective actions as required, and replacing the elevator pushrod end with a new part. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD is effective October 15, 2024.

A copy of the AD notice is available here:

Federal Register :: Airworthiness Directives; DG Aviation GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Gliders

The AD does not apply to DG gliders that do not have an FAA type certificate as noted below from the text of the notice:

"AD Requirements

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the material already described, except as discussed under “Differences Between this AD and the MCAI.”

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

The MCAI applies to Model DG-100G, DG-100G ELAN, DG-200, DG-200/17, DG-200/17C, DG-300, DG-300 ELAN, DG-300 Club ELAN, DG-300 ELAN ACRO, DG-300 Club ELAN ACRO, DG-600, DG-600/18, DG-600M, DG-600/18 M, DG-800 LA, DG-800 S, DG-808 S, and DG-1000E gliders, but this AD does not because these models do not have an FAA type certificate."