Tim P. Hanke

Document ID: FAA-2010-0839-0008
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Received Date: August 27 2010, at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: August 30 2010, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: August 25 2010, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: October 12 2010, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80b3d627
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This is comment on Rule

Airworthiness Directives: Aircraft Industries a.s. (Type Certificate G24EU Previously Held by LETECKE ZAVODY a.s. and LET Aeronautical Works) Model L-13 Blanik Gliders

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The FAA has taken the wrong approach by grounding all L-13 Blanik’s. There is a great need to look at the total time imposed on the airframe structure. Our organization has 3 Blanik L-13’s and all have under 2,000 hours TT. You cannot compare these hours with a European aircraft that performs aerobatics daily, has tens of thousands winch launches, and has over 5,000 hours TT. Shouldn’t a die penetrating or similar test identify cracks in the spar and carry through structure. The immediate response should ground only Blanik L-13’s over a threshold number of hours (say 5,000 hours). The ESA originally only required a 6X glass to inspect and the FAA required a 10X. This is already more stringent that what was required in Europe. The grounding of this aircraft will produce financial challenges for both soaring clubs and commercial operators.