ContestID67 wrote:
This AD came out in the last few days and sent me into a tizzy. This
has to do with the elevator bearing stand breaking loose. All
applicable ships must grind off and replace the difficult to get at
fiberglass and metal stand by Jan 19, 2010. The part itself is 39
Euros (plus VAT and shipping, etc) and another 250 Euros (plus VAT)
for the "Release Certificate". This was looking like a $1000 repair
and several months of downtime. And this is because one (1!) DG-100
had this part fail out of 200+ built. I know the elevator is the one
item you really DON'T want to fail but it seems like over doing it.

My understanding is that the German LBA mandated this not DG themselves.
This AD has been out for several months in europe.


The AD applies to "DG-100 and DG-100G: ser. no. 5, 21 up to 103". My
DG-101G ELAN's SN is E102G72 so I figured I was caught. But the early
DG serial numbers are notoriously difficult to decipher and DG
themselves intermix DG-100 and DG-101, with or without the G, rather
haphazardly.

From your serial number E102G72 you have a type DG-100, the 102nd built
by Elan and the 72nd G type of the Elans.

See http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/werknummer.rtf for an clear explanation
of serial numbers.

Remember various manufacturers use different model names to sell gliders
but the serial numbers refer to the type. All DG 100 and 101s including
G types are DG100s. All DG200 and DG202 are type DG200, all DG300 and
DG303 are type DG300 etc.

In the same way the ASG29 is not a different type but for all official
paperwork and type certificates etc it is officially an ASW27-18


Nick Hill