Grob G102 Astir Spar Spigot Assembly AD NPRM

Looks like we have until the end of the month to try to head this off:

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory...8?OpenDocument


BDS

When the G103 AD was done, what percentage were found cracked? Have any G102
spigots been found cracked?
Is this a real problem or a CYA move?

-
Hartley Falbaum

"BDS" wrote in message
...
Looks like we have until the end of the month to try to head this off:

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory...8?OpenDocument


BDS

BDS wrote:
Looks like we have until the end of the month to try to head this off:

That would be today, actually:
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 29, 2007

I counted 9 comments as of this morning (8 negative, 1 misplaced?).
Most everyone that has spoken up seems to find the PR out of date,
unnecessary, unjustified, burdensome, counter-productive and so on. The
75 owners out there ought to speak up right away if they wish to be
heard. It's easily done by electronic submission (fill-in form).

At 16:18 10 August 2007, Hl Falbaum wrote:
When the G103 AD was done, what percentage were found
cracked? Have any G102
spigots been found cracked?
Is this a real problem or a CYA move?

-
Hartley Falbaum


The G103 spigot problem was due to faulty materials
in the manufacture of the spigot. Almost all of the
aircraft which used the faulty spec steel were found
to be cracked to some extent. The fix introduced replaceable
spigots so in the event of a future problem with the
spigots they can just be unscrewed and replaced.
The was a mandatory AD from Grob and the LBA in 1992
for the wing spigots to be replaced on G102 gliders
and certainly this mod was carried out in the UK. Looks
like you are just catching up with the rest of the
world.

The G103 spigot problem was due to faulty materials
in the manufacture of the spigot...

I think it might have been a bit more complicated than that. Back when
the Grob Spigot-Fixin' team was on their US Grand Tour, I saw the old
and new spigots side by side. I don't remember the exact details of
the design beyond that it was a plate of steel with a cylindrical
protrusion emerging from one edge. But I do remember thinking that the
old style was somewhat casual in its execution, while the new looked
much more robust, with much more of the filleting you'd want for good
fatigue resistance.