Federal Aviation Administration

Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin

Make:
Lange Flugzeugbau

Model:
Lange Flugzeugbau E1 Antares

Product Type:
Aircraft

Product Subtype:
Glider



Full Text of the SAIB

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin informs you of an airworthiness concern for Lange Flugzeugbau sailplane model E1 Antares, serial numbers 01 through 36E34. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued emergency airworthiness directive (AD) number 2007-0077-E, dated March 23, 2007, for those sailplanes registered for operation in Europe. That AD is based on Lange Technical Note No. 904-1, original issue or later approved revision.

Note: The Lange E1 Antares sailplane is not type certificated in the United States.

Background

Lange Flugzeugbau has determined that a defective tool was used for crimping Nicopress sleeves installed at the ends of the rudder cables. The EASA AD requires a one-time inspection of the cables’ sleeves and replacement of the rudder cable if a Nicopress sleeve is found improperly crimped. If not corrected, this condition could impede the pilot to control the rudder and lead to loss of control of the sailplane.

These sailplanes are not type certificated in the United States and, therefore, the condition is not addressed by FAA AD action. However, these sailplanes could be operating in the United States with an experimental airworthiness certificate or other means.

Recommendations

We recommend any model E1 Antares sailplane operating in the United States have the actions outlined in Lange Technical Note No. 904-1 incorporated.

For Further Information Contact

Gregory Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; email: gregory.davison@faa.gov

For Related Service Information Contact

Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH, Brüsseler Straße 30, 66482 Zweibrücken, Germany
Phone: +49 6332 9627-0
Fax: +49 6332 9627-19
Email: info@lange-flugzeugbau.com