Hot Air Balloons — Connection Load Strap / Suspension Cable — Inspection / Modification
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- F-2004-136
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Ballons Chaize CS, JZ, and JZX balloons must inspect the load strap turnback within 100 flight hours or 12 months from 2022-10-11, whichever occurs first. If the load strap has only one layer of load tape, it must be modified before the next flight following the instructions in Ballons Chaize Service Bulletin SB 5. Compliance with these actions is mandatory to continue operation.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0202 is an airworthiness directive addressing Ballons Chaize CS, JZ, and JZX hot air balloons, excluding those with serial numbers prefixed 'NG-'. It mandates inspection and possible modification of the connection load strap and suspension cable to ensure continued airworthiness. This directive supersedes previous French DGAC ADs related to the same issue.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0202 supersedes DGAC France AD F-2004-136 and introduces a one-time inspection requirement of the load strap turnback at the connection to the suspension cable. Depending on inspection findings, it requires modification of the load strap to reinforce it, replacing the previous repetitive inspection and repair approach.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because undetected damage to the load strap connection can lead to in-flight failure of flying wires, risking loss of balloon control. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to maintain safety and regulatory conformity. It also updates previous requirements, streamlining inspection and corrective actions.
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