Civil & Administrative

Airworthiness Directives; DG Aviation GmbH Gliders

🇺🇸United States·2026-04-03·Final Rule·Low Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

The FAA has issued a final rule adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2026-07-03 for all DG Aviation GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders, prompted by reports of engine mount cracking near the propeller head. This unsafe condition could lead to loss of power transmission to the propeller and reduced or loss of glider control. The AD mandates immediate actions including updating the maintenance manual, inspecting the engine mount for cracks before further flight or within 30 days of the April 20, 2026 effective date, and repairing any cracks found before further flight. Additional requirements include powerplant belt tension inspection with adjustments if needed, propeller assembly balancing, and installing a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) bracket. Certain maintenance actions are prohibited, and software updates are referenced but modified in the AD. The rule incorporates DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note TM1000-51 FE-29-01 by reference and allows comments until May 18, 2026. It affects an estimated 2 U.S.-registered gliders with compliance costs around $1,260 per glider, plus potential on-condition costs for repairs.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

Inspect engine mount for cracks before further flight or within 30 days of April 20, 2026 effective date
Repair engine mount cracks before further flight if found during inspection
Perform powerplant belt tension inspection and adjust if necessary

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Obligations

What this law requires

high

Update the maintenance manual for DG-1000M gliders in accordance with DG Aviation GmbH Technical Note TM1000-51 FE-29-01, Issue 01.d