EASA AD No.: 2012-0073 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2012-0073 

Date: 30 April 2012 

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation 

(EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the European 

third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that Regulation. 

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an 

aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [EC 

2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name: 

HPH spol. s r.o. 

Type/Model designation(s): 

Glasflügel 304 CZ

TCDS Number: EASA.A.030 

Foreign AD: Not applicable 

Supersedure: None 

ATA 27 Flight Controls – Elevator Control Rod in the Vertical Fin – 

Inspection / Replacement 

Manufacturer(s): HPH spol. s r.o. 

Applicability: Glasflügel 304 CZ, Glasflügel 304 CZ-17, Glasflügel 304 C all serial numbers 

(s/n). 

Reason: A broken elevator control rod in the vertical fin on a Kestrel sailplane has been 

reported. 

The technical investigation revealed that water had soaked into the elevator 

control rod through a control bore hole and resulted in corrosion damage. The 

investigation concluded that the corrosion cannot be detected from outside the 

elevator control rod. 

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure of the elevator 

control rod, possibly resulting in loss of control of the sailplane. 

To address this unsafe condition, HPH spol. s r.o. published Service Bulletins 

(SB) : G304CZ-06a), G304CZ17-06a), G304C-06a), providing instructions for 

elevator control rod inspection and replacement. 

For the reasons described above, this AD requires accomplishment of a onetime inspection of the elevator control rod in the vertical fin and replacement with 

an improved control rod if control rod without drainage hole is used. 

Effective Date: 14 May 2012 
EASA AD No.: 2012-0073 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) For all sailplanes identified in the Applicability section of this AD, except 

those identified in Table 1 of this AD, no later than in 30 days after the 

effective date of this AD, inspect the elevator control rod in the vertical fin in 

accordance with Action 1 of HPH spol. s r.o. SB: G304CZ-06a); G304CZ17-

06a); G304C-06a), as applicable to sailplane model.

Table 1 

Sailplane model s/n 

Glasfügel 304 CZ-17 26-17, 70-17

 Note: The sailplanes identified in Table 1 of this AD have already been 

 inspected and, where necessary, corrected; only paragraphs (3) and (4) of 

 this AD apply to these sailplanes. 

(2) If, during the inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, any 

discrepancy is found, before next flight, replace the elevator control rod with 

an improved part in accordance with Actions 2, 3 and 4 of HPH spol. s r.o. 

SB: G304CZ-06a); G304CZ17-06a); G304C-06a), as applicable to sailplane 

model. 

(3) For all sailplanes identified in the Applicability section of this AD if equipped 

with control rod without drainage hole, within the time specified in Table 2 of 

this AD, as applicable, replace the elevator control rod in the vertical fin with 

an improved part in accordance with Actions 2, 3 and 4 of HPH spol. s r.o. 

SB: G304CZ-06a); G304CZ17-06a); G304C-06a), as applicable to sailplane 

model. 

Table 2 

Sailplane configuration Compliance time 

Equipped with a rubber bellows on 

the top of the vertical stabilizer 

Within 8 months after the effective 

date of this AD 

Not equipped with a rubber bellows 

on the top of the vertical stabilizer 

Within 20 months after the effective 

date of this AD 

(4) After replacement of the elevator control rod in the vertical fin on a sailplane, 

as required by paragraph (2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable, do not install 

an elevator control rod without a drainage hole on that sailplane. 

Ref. Publications: HPH spol. s r.o. SB: G304CZ-06a); G304CZ17-06a); G304C-06a), dated 

23.04.2012. 

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative 

Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. The required actions and the risk allowance have granted the issuance of a 

Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public consultation 

process after publication. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. 

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact: 

HPH spol. s r.o. 

Čáslavská 126, 

P.O. Box 112, 

28401 Kutná Hora 

Czech Republic 

Tel. : +420 327 512633, email: info@hph.cz.