At 12:39 21 August 2008, Gary Emerson wrote:
Don Johnstone wrote:
Is this alarming?
In 1971 the Design Authority issued an Airworthiness Directive
mandating
the replacement of wing spigots on the Grob 102, following a failure
on
the Grob 103. Aircraft manufacturers/Design Authorities do not issue
directives, which by their name are mandatory, for the fun of it, in
fact
doing so indicates that have screwed up. The work mandated is
essential.
Unless I have this completely wrong the FAA decided they knew better
and
did not pass this on.
My concern is, how many other AD issued by Design Authorities have
been
ignored by the FAA and is it really safe to fly in a glider, or any
other
aircraft on the USA register? Can we be assured that essential safety
maintenance has been done?
Looking at the evidence of the Grob 102 the answer has to be no.
Have the FAA ignored other ADs issued by European manufacturers,
Airbus
Industrie perhaps?
Scary!!!!!!!



At 00:23 16 August 2008, Gary Emerson wrote:
I heard an AD was being considered for the wing spigots on the Grob
102s

(US version AD). Any definite info on where this is headed and when?

Thanks,

Gary



This is a question, not a statement...

There is reference to an incorrect material selection in the G103
spigots. Does anyone know if the correct material was used in the G102
spigots?

Difficult, the problem with the G103 spigots was that allegedly they were
manufactured from steel which did not meet the design specification,
however this appears to have prompted a rethink on the whole question of
wing spigot material spec and it would appear that the design authority
was of the view that the existing spec was not good enough, hence the
redesign.
The answer to your specific question is that the G102 spigots were
manufactured to the spec in force at the time they were made but did not
meet the later required spec.
It is true that a service bulletin was issued but make no mistake this was
an Airworthiness Directive taken up by the LBA and the CAA and as far as I
am aware the rest of the world excluding America.
This is getting more scary by the minute.