At 12:39 04 February 2011, Tim Hanke wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:19=A0am, Tim Hanke wrote:
Current Status of the Blanik L-13 SPAR AD Grounding?

Does anyone know what the current status of the Blanik L-13 Eddy
Current testing procedure is? Has the University of Prague developed
this procedure for LET=92s review?

It is my understanding the clubs of =A0the Czech Republic have been
flying the L-13=92s by claiming hardship to the Czech Federal
Government. This doesn=92t help the situation, as there is no pressure
being applied against the LET Factory.

Thanks for any information you may be able to provide.

Tim Hanke
Adirondack Soaring Group, Inc.
Saratoga Springs, NY USA



Tim,

To answer your question "No I don't know what LET is doing."

But, I do know this. If you have a L13 as a trainer, the 2011 training
season is in jeopardy! The reason I say this is the amount of time
between now and the start of the season vs. the duration it will take to
get a clean bill of health for you L13.

The process to get a clean bill of health will involve activities like
this:

-LET completes the prototype testing
-They submit the test method to EASA for approval
-New AD issued
-FAA accepts this AD
-Locate a certified Aviation NDE tech to perform the test
-They manufacture the eddy current probe. (It might be custom)
-Then they perform the test.

If there are no defects found, then you will be able to fly. But, the
process stated above will take a long time and it won't be done by the
begining of the 2011 flying season.

My recommendation to you is that you contact another glider training
organization and make arrangements for your group to temporarily learn
there. This way you won't loose the 2011 season.

Regarding my knowledge with Non Destructive Examination (NDE), the company
I work for builds nuclear power generating equipment. We do a lot of NDE
testing with Eddy Current and Xray. I'm not the NDE expert, but I know
what is involved with developing a prototype Eddy Current system and what
is involved with the execution of the test. I seriously doubt L13's will
be flying at the begining of this coming season.

Good Luck,

Andrew