by TimF » Mon Jun 05, 2023 9:08 am
As you know, the Astir was grounded some time ago pending a repair to the inside of the fuselage above the front left wing attachment point. That repair is nearing completion; the last part involving some work to the immediate outside surface with gel coat and paint. The plan was to move immediately into carrying out the Annual Inspection which commenced in earnest on 23rd May.
The inspection has revealed a number of defects with the most noteworthy being:
1. Both rudder cables have broken wires and need replacing.
2. Some gel coat defects, and in particular a long crack on the leading edge of the tailplane. This has been present for some years to my knowledge and the considered view is that it should be repaired now or in a matter of months rather than keep deferring it.
3. The top surface of both wings is dull and in need of polishing and wax application. This sort of treatment is long overdue. A test has been carried out to prove that the suggested treatment is effective.
4. Some defects have been found in what is thought to be filler material in the area where the main spar meets the root rib on the left wing. The advice of the BGA Chief Technical Officer was that this should be referred to the aircraft’s Design Authority in Germany (Lindner) to seek their views on the way forward. I have written to Lindner and sent a number of photographs. Currently I await their response. There is no way of knowing at this stage how long this will take nor what the outcome might be.
Work on the Astir has now been suspended until we have a way forward from the aircraft’s Design Authority.
I will provide an update to this post when information becomes available.
Tim Fox
As you know, the Astir was grounded some time ago pending a repair to the inside of the fuselage above the front left wing attachment point. That repair is nearing completion; the last part involving some work to the immediate outside surface with gel coat and paint. The plan was to move immediately into carrying out the Annual Inspection which commenced in earnest on 23rd May.
The inspection has revealed a number of defects with the most noteworthy being:
1. Both rudder cables have broken wires and need replacing.
2. Some gel coat defects, and in particular a long crack on the leading edge of the tailplane. This has been present for some years to my knowledge and the considered view is that it should be repaired now or in a matter of months rather than keep deferring it.
3. The top surface of both wings is dull and in need of polishing and wax application. This sort of treatment is long overdue. A test has been carried out to prove that the suggested treatment is effective.
4. Some defects have been found in what is thought to be filler material in the area where the main spar meets the root rib on the left wing. The advice of the BGA Chief Technical Officer was that this should be referred to the aircraft’s Design Authority in Germany (Lindner) to seek their views on the way forward. I have written to Lindner and sent a number of photographs. Currently I await their response. There is no way of knowing at this stage how long this will take nor what the outcome might be.
Work on the Astir has now been suspended until we have a way forward from the aircraft’s Design Authority.
I will provide an update to this post when information becomes available.
Tim Fox