Schempp-Hirth Discus

Discus CS, b, bT Grounding Update 3 October 2003

The LBA have issued Airworthiness Directives AD2003-266/2 and AD2003-265/2 for the Discus CS and b and the Discus bT respectively. The revised AD's approve Schempp-Hirth Technical Note 360-21 and 863-9 for the inspection of effected aircraft.

Any aircraft with a BGA C of A, grounded by the AD's that has been inspected and no fault found may now be operated as normal.
It is appreciated that due to the large numbers of effected aircraft, several aircraft have been inspected prior to the formal issue of the Technical Notes. In this case the aircraft may be operated provided the log book entry is made at the earliest opportunity.
Aircraft that have faults identified by the inspection may only be operated once corrective action has been completed and certified in the log book in the normal way.

18th September 2003

The latest information we have is that there will be a meeting between Schempp-Hirth and the Czech CAA next week on the 24th. Until then all affected aircraft remain grounded. Southern Sailplanes are carrying out inspections to a draft Technical Notice. Only when the Technical Notice and a revision to the LBA AD is approved can the inspected aircraft be allowed to fly (assuming that the draft inspection is not altered).

16th September 2003

The LBA have just issued two AD's (16/9/03) - AD 2003-265 for Discus bT and AD 2003-266 for Discus b and CS. The LBA website can be found at www.lba.de/englisch/englisch.htm.

11th September 2003

Following an incident in France, an airworthiness directive has today been issued grounding Discus sailplanes and powered sailplanes manufactured in the Czech Republic and other Schempp-Hirth types fitted with replacement wings manufactured in the Czech Republic. Full details can be found by clicking here.