Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22372 · Wing, rib/bulkhead
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Gliders
This AD applies to Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15 and ASW-15B gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, equipped with wooden wing root ribs.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-14- 14, which applied to all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15 gliders. AD 2022-14-14 required repetitively inspecting the wing root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-14-14, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to add all Model ASW-15B gliders to the applicability. This AD is prompted by MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. This AD retains the requirements from AD 2022-14-14 of repetitively inspecting the wing root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing or any damage; and revises the applicability by adding Model ASW-15B gliders and specifying that this AD applies to all Model ASW-15 and ASW-15B gliders equipped with wooden wing root ribs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For Model ASW-15 gliders: Within 30 days after August 25, 2022 (effective date of AD 2022-14-14), and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, inspect all wing root ribs (4 places) for cracks, looseness, and damage, in accordance with the Action section in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Maintenance Instruction G, Issue 1, dated June 28, 2021. If there is a crack in any root rib, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage, before further flight, replace the root rib in accordance with Action paragraph (B) in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Technical Note 29, dated June 28, 2021, and steps 1 through 7 in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Repair instruction exchange of wing root ribs according to TN 29, dated June 28, 2021; or Action paragraph (C) in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Technical Note 29, Issue II, dated May 4, 2022, and steps 1 through 7 in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Repair instruction exchange of wing root ribs according to TN 29, dated June 28, 2021.
(2) For Model ASW-15B gliders: Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, inspect all wing root ribs (4 places) for cracks, looseness, and damage, in accordance with the Action section in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Maintenance Instruction G, Issue 1, dated June 28, 2021. If there is a crack in any root rib, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage, before further flight, replace the root rib in accordance with Action paragraph (C) in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Technical Note 29, Issue II, dated May 4, 2022, and steps 1 through 7 in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Repair instruction exchange of wing root ribs according to TN 29, dated June 28, 2021.
(3) For Model ASW-15 and ASW-15B gliders: Replacing all four wing root ribs with new ribs is terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by this AD.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
