Flight Controls — Control Stick — Inspection / Replacement
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2022-0043R1
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must inspect affected control sticks within specified compliance times—before the next flight after 15 March 2022 for Group 1 aircraft and before the next flight after the AD effective date for Group 2 aircraft—and repeat inspections every 100 flight hours or 12 months. Any detected corrosion or damage requires immediate replacement with serviceable parts. Full replacement of affected parts must occur within 20 months of the respective compliance dates to terminate repetitive inspections. Installation of affected parts is prohibited from the AD effective date.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0066-E is an emergency directive addressing inspection and replacement requirements for control sticks on Scheibe SF 25 powered sailplanes, including models SF 25, SF 25 C, SF 25 E, and SF 25 K. The directive targets control sticks except those with specific part numbers (20093, 20093/G, 20094, 20094/G) due to corrosion-induced fracture risks. It mandates inspections and replacements to ensure continued airworthiness and safe operation of affected aircraft.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0066-E supersedes the previous AD 2022-0043R1 and expands the applicability to include additional powered sailplanes with Scheibe modification 653C-41-S10.1. It retains the inspection and replacement requirements but broadens the scope of affected aircraft and parts to address newly identified risks. The directive also updates compliance timelines and inspection intervals.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a safety risk involving potential control stick fractures caused by corrosion, which could lead to loss of aircraft control. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to prevent in-flight failures and ensure regulatory conformity. The directive affects maintenance planning, part inventory management, and pilot-owner inspection responsibilities.
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