Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22854 · Elevator control system
DG Aviation GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Gliders
This AD applies to the following:
(1) DG Aviation GmbH (type certificate previously held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Model DG-400 gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, except those with l'Hotellier connections of the elevator control installed; and
(2) DG Aviation GmbH (type certificate previously held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) 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, all serial numbers; certificated in any category.
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.
For the purposes of this AD the definitions in paragraphs (g)(1) through (5) of this AD apply.
(1) The “applicable technical note for your glider” is:
(i) Model DG-400 gliders: DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note No. DG-SS-09, Doc. No. TMDG-SS-09 FE-29-01, Issue 01.f, dated March 5, 2024.
(ii) Model DG-500 gliders: DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note No. 500/17, Doc. No. TM500-17 FE-29-01, Issue 01.c, dated March 5, 2023.
(iii) Model DG-800 gliders: DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note No. 800/50, Doc. No. TM800-50 FE-29-01, Issue 01.c, dated March 5, 2024.
(iv) Model DG-1000 gliders: DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note No. 1000/50, Doc. No. TM1000-50 FE-29-01, Issue 01.c, dated March 4, 2024.
(2) A “new elevator pushrod end” is an elevator pushrod with zero hours time-in-service (TIS) having a part number specified in the applicable technical note for your glider that has never been installed on any glider.
(3) A “new elevator roller” is an elevator roller with zero hours TIS having a part number specified in the applicable technical note for your glider that has never been installed on any glider.
(4) Group 1 gliders: Model DG-400 gliders.
(5) Group 2 gliders: 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.
(1) Group 1 and Group 2 gliders: Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise your existing glider maintenance manual in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider.
(2) Group 1 and Group 2 gliders: Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, accomplish an operational check of the free play adjustment of the automatic elevator hook-up in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider.
(i) Group 1 gliders: If, during the operational check required by paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, any discrepancy as described in paragraph 2 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider is detected, before further flight, replace the elevator roller with a new elevator roller and adjust free play in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider. Where the technical note for your glider specifies to “mark the removed rod end as [an] unserviceable part” this AD requires “removing that elevator pushrod end from service.” Where the technical note for your glider specifies “If a new rod end is needed, order it immediately at DG” this AD only requires “replacing the elevator pushrod end with a new elevator pushrod end.”
(ii) Group 2 gliders: If, during the operational check required by paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, any discrepancy, as described in paragraph 2 of the Instructions of the applicable technical note for your glider is detected, before further flight, replace either the elevator pushrod end or elevator roller or both, as applicable, with a new elevator pushrod end and new elevator roller and adjust the free play in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider. Where the technical note for your glider specifies to “mark the removed rod end as [an] unserviceable part” this AD requires “removing that elevator pushrod end from service.” Where the technical note for your glider specifies “If a new rod end is needed, order it immediately at DG” this AD only requires “replacing the elevator pushrod end with a new elevator pushrod end.”
(3) Group 1 gliders: Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the elevator pushrod end with a new elevator pushrod end in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Instructions in the applicable technical note for your glider.
Although the Remarks section of the material specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD states to report “any damaged parts, false adjustment of the elevator control, or false installation of parts” and “If you find that airworthiness may be affected this has to be reported to the competent authority,” this AD does not require those actions.
