Flight Controls — Airbrake System — 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 airbrake system within 12 months or at the next annual inspection after 21 July 2022, whichever occurs first, and repeat inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Any discrepancies found must be corrected before the next flight using approved maintenance instructions or by consulting Schempp-Hirth. The Aircraft Maintenance Programme should be updated to include these inspection tasks for ongoing compliance.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0138 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus, Duo Discus C, and Duo Discus T powered sailplanes of all serial numbers. It mandates inspections of the airbrake system to prevent blockage or jamming that could reduce control of the sailplane. The directive provides detailed inspection instructions based on Schempp-Hirth Technical Notes.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory repetitive inspections of the airbrake system on affected Duo Discus sailplanes. It requires corrective actions if discrepancies are found during inspections and mandates incorporation of the inspection tasks into the approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme. No previous directives are superseded by this AD.
Why it matters
This directive addresses a safety risk where incorrect airbrake adjustment could cause the airbrakes to jam in the extended position at high airspeed, potentially compromising flight control. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain airworthiness and prevent accidents. It also clarifies maintenance instructions that were previously incomplete.
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