Equipment / Furnishings — Towing Release Mechanism — Inspection
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AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must inspect the center of gravity towing release mechanism before the next winch launch after 2018-07-11 and during each annual inspection thereafter, following Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service GmbH Technical Note No 5-2018. Any discrepancies found require immediate corrective action before further flight. Additionally, the Aircraft Flight Manual must be amended with a warning before the next winch launch, and all pilots must be informed accordingly.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0143-E is an emergency directive addressing the inspection of the towing release mechanism on Glasflügel sailplanes, including models such as H 301 Libelle, Standard Libelle variants, Glasflügel 604, Kestrel, Hornet, Mosquito, and Glasflügel 304. The directive mandates inspections of the center of gravity towing release mechanism to prevent jamming issues that could impair cable release during winch launches.
What changed
This new emergency airworthiness directive introduces mandatory repetitive inspections of the towing release mechanism's deflector angles and requires corrective actions if discrepancies are found. It also mandates an amendment to the Aircraft Flight Manual to include a warning for pilots. No previous directives are superseded by this AD.
Why it matters
The directive addresses a critical safety concern where jamming of the towing release mechanism could lead to failure to disconnect the towing cable, potentially causing reduced or loss of control of the sailplane. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safe operation of affected sailplanes, protecting pilots and maintaining regulatory adherence.
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