AD 2018-21-04 Airworthiness Directives; Glasgflugel Gliders

This AD applies to Glasflugel Models Club Libelle 205, H 301 “Libelle,” H 301B “Libelle,” Kestrel, Mosquito, Standard “Libelle,” and Standard Libelle-201B gliders, certificated in any category, with a center of gravity (C.G.) tow release installed.

Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and (3) of this AD. (1) Before the next winch launch after November 13, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the distance between the deflector-angles by following paragraph 1 in the Actions section of Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service GmbH Technical Note No. 5-2018, dated June 25, 2018. (2) If the distance is less than 36 mm during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before the next winch launch after November 13, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), do the corrective action in paragraph 2 in the Actions section of Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service GmbH Technical Note No. 5-2018, dated June 25, 2018. (3) Before the next winch launch after November 13, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), revise the flying operations section of the sailplane flight manual by inserting the text in paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this AD into the winch tow section. (i) Winch launching is permissible only with a connecting ring pair that conforms to aeronautical standard LN 65091. (ii) This action may be done by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD by following 14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.

The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Small Airplane Standards Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC on any glider to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must instead be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as jamming between the double two-ring end of the towing cable and the deflector angles of the C.G. release mechanism. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the towing cable to disconnect, which could result in reduced or loss of control of the glider or the cable breaking and causing injury to people on the ground.

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