On Apr 9, 11:52 am, Shawn wrote:

3 of 8 in a sample that size (8) is playing pretty fairly free and loose
with statistics. Did DG sample gliders they thought would be affected
or did they sample across the entire manufacturing run? The numbers
could be much different.
Also, since they say they've tested 8 gliders, it costs EUR 6000/glider
to test, and they've spent EUR 10,000, I'm assuming they've only tested
wrecked gliders. That, or they hired an accountant from Enron. ;-)

Shawn

8 samples implies that they tested 4 gliders including the one that
showed the original defect after a severe landing accident. From what
I understand that original glider was repaired and is airworthy again
(and for sale by the club in Germany that owns it), it probably is the
only one right now with a guarantee that it has no main spar defects
and as such can be operated within the old operating limits...

I would guess they tested whatever they had at hand and of course the
sample might not be representative but all you can go by right now to
get an idea of the extend of the problem; especially since Elan is not
able/willing to provide any more information as to when they did the
change to the wing manufacturing process which can possibly lead to
the main spar defects discovered.

I assume the EUR 10,000 mentioned is the cost of the load test & tests
to destruction they did on affected wings to establish the new
operating limitations.

Markus