EASA AD No.: 2015-0139R1

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2015-0139R1

Date: 15 July 2015

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 EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with EU 1321/2014 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 

[EU 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name:

SCHEMPP-HIRTH FLUGZEUGBAU GmbH

Type/Model designation(s):

Duo Discus sailplanes

Duo Discus T powered sailplanes

Nimbus-4 sailplanes and powered sailplanes

TCDS Number: EASA.A.025, EASA.A.074, EASA.A.063 and LBA 380

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Revision This AD revises EASA AD 2015-0139 dated 10 July 2015.

ATA 27 Flight Controls – Air Brake Bellcrank – Inspection / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH

Applicability: Duo Discus sailplanes, serial numbers (S/N) 1 to 639 inclusive, 

Duo Discus C sailplanes, all S/N.

Duo Discus T powered sailplanes, S/N 1 to 110 inclusive and S/N 112 to 247 

inclusive.

Nimbus-4D sailplanes, S/N 1 to 15 inclusive,

Nimbus-4DT powered sailplanes, S/N 1 to 16 inclusive,

Nimbus 4DM powered sailplanes, S/N 1 to 12 inclusive and S/N 14 to 75 

inclusive.

Reason: Operational experience shows that application of an excessive load on the air 

brake system may induce damage to the drive funnels in the fuselage and to 

the air brake bellcrank at the root rips of the wing.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to an uncontrolled 

actuation of the air brakes (symmetric or asymmetric), possibly resulting in 

reduced control of the (powered) sailplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau 

GmbH issued Technical Note (TN) 380-2, 396-17, 868-22 and 890-14 

(published as a single document) to provide inspection instructions.

Consequently EASA issued AD 2015-0139 to require repetitive inspections of 
EASA AD No.: 2015-0139R1

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the air brake bellcrank, the air brake drive funnels and the airbrake control 

system, and replacement of damaged parts.

Since that AD was issued, it was found that the drawing number of the 

reinforced air brake drive funnel was incorrectly stated in the original issue of 

the Schempp-Hirth TN. The wrongly referred drawing S14FB703 refers to an 

existing part, different from air brake drive funnel and cannot be installed as a 

replacement part for air brake drive funnel. Consequently, Schempp-Hirth 

Flugzeugbau GmbH issued Revision 1 of TN 380-2, 396-17, 868-22 and 890-

14, hereafter referenced to as ‘the revised TN’ in this AD.

For the reasons described above, this AD is revised to require using the

revised TN.

Effective Date: 24 July 2015 [same as original issue]

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) Within 40 days after the effective date of this AD, and, thereafter, at 

intervals not to exceed 100 flight hours, inspect the air brake bellcrank, 

the air brake drive funnels and the airbrake control system in accordance 

with the working instructions of the revised TN.

(2) Within the compliance time defined in Table 1 of this AD, depending on 

the finding(s) detected during any inspection, as required by paragraph 

(1) of this AD, accomplish the actions defined in paragraphs (2.1) and 

(2.2) of this AD in accordance with the working instructions of the revised 

TN:

(2.1) Replace each air brake bellcrank with a reinforced part 

corresponding to Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH drawing 

HS11-50.016 Revision a, or later approved drawings; and

(2.2) Replace each air brake drive funnel with a reinforced part

corresponding to Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH drawing 

S14RB703 Revision a, or later approved drawings.

Table 1 – Replacement time

Findings Compliance time

Any crack or damage 

detected Before next flight

No crack and no damage 

detected

Within 12 months after the 

effective date of this AD

(3) Replacement of the air brake bellcrank and the air brake drive funnels, as 

required by paragraph (2) of this AD, constitutes terminating action for 

repetitive inspections as required by paragraph (1) of this AD.

(4) From the effective date of this AD, installation of an air brake bellcrank is 

allowed, provided the part corresponds to Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau 

GmbH drawing HS11-50.016 Revision a, or later approved drawings.

(5) From the effective date of this AD, installation of an air brake drive funnel 

is allowed, provided the part corresponds to Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau 

GmbH drawing S14RB703 Revision a, or later approved drawings.

Ref. Publications: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH TN 380-2, 396-17, 868-22 and 890-14

Revision 1, dated 13 July 2015, and the related working instructions, dated

11 May 2015.

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD.
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Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD.

2. Based on the required actions and the compliance time, EASA have 

decided to issue a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the 

public consultation process until after publication.

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

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

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

this AD, please contact:

Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH,Krebenstrasse 25,

73230 Kirchheim/Teck, Germany

Telephone: +49 7021 7298-0, Fax: +49 7021 7298-199

Email: info@schempp-hirth.com.