Discus CS grounded in France

French aviation authorities (DGAC) have just grounded the Discus CS,
because of an in-flight wing failure :
http://195.68.62.11/GSAC/ad_cns.nsf/...iques?OpenView

Apparently, it is not the case in Germany (nothing on the Schempp-Hirth
or LBA websites)

Has anyone got more news ?

Cheers

Marc TILL
Orsay, France
http://perso.club-internet.fr/mtill/
http://www.planeur-chartres.org/

I heard it was a high time glider in severe turbulence.

And that makes it ok?

Yep,
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Where are the cut offs for High Time and "severe " turbulence that would
make it not OK to fly?
Currently flying a well aged Nimbus with over 1000 hours on it.
Should I be worried about my personal safety because of the airframe hours?
Are there some days I just shouldn't fly because the "turbulence" might be
"too high"?
All advice carefully considered.
Cheers!


Guy Byars wrote in article
...


I heard it was a high time glider in severe turbulence.

And that makes it ok?

The wording in the english version of the French document says that
there was separation of the wing in normal operation with some
indication of a possible manufacturing defect.

Now, this may turn out to not be true, but if it is true this won't be good.

Thomas Knauff wrote:
I heard it was a high time glider in severe turbulence.

Tom Knauff


"Marc Till" ] wrote in message
...

French aviation authorities (DGAC) have just grounded the Discus CS,
because of an in-flight wing failure :
http://195.68.62.11/GSAC/ad_cns.nsf/...iques?OpenView

Apparently, it is not the case in Germany (nothing on the Schempp-Hirth
or LBA websites)

Has anyone got more news ?

Cheers

Marc TILL
Orsay, France
http://perso.club-internet.fr/mtill/
http://www.planeur-chartres.org/

Per the French Airworthiness Directive, "separation of the wing during
normal operating conditions, possibly the result of a manufacturing
defect."


Marc Till ] wrote in message ...
French aviation authorities (DGAC) have just grounded the Discus CS,
because of an in-flight wing failure :
http://195.68.62.11/GSAC/ad_cns.nsf/...iques?OpenView

Apparently, it is not the case in Germany (nothing on the Schempp-Hirth
or LBA websites)

Has anyone got more news ?

Cheers

Marc TILL
Orsay, France
http://perso.club-internet.fr/mtill/
http://www.planeur-chartres.org/

I better check the spar splices in the 1-20 wing again! With a red line of
75mph, you can't be too careful.


Same happens as with a wooden glider.......

SF.

Same happens as with a wooden glider.......


JJ knows that...after all, wood and fiberglass are both composite aircraft;-)

Jim Vincent
CFIG
N483SZ

Ian,
I've got a copy of the same articles.
I used to think my Mooney was a pretty high time at 7200 hours until I
parked it next to the sister ship with 4200+ hours.
There is still the "turbulence" though, so I'm wondering if I should fly
only on days when there is no lift.
Cheers! (and still trolling)

tango4 wrote in article
...
I have a copy of Technical Soaring, the July 2002 vol 26 number 2 that
discusses lifetime predictions of compostie aircraft. The general
conclusions seem to be that "lifetimes far in excess of the current 12000
hours" and "a lifespan of 50000 ( yes fifty thousand ) hours with a high
level of safety" so your 1000 hour Nimbus is hardly out of the running in
period!

Ian


"George William Peter Reinhart" wrote in message
...
Yep,
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Where are the cut offs for High Time and "severe " turbulence that
would
make it not OK to fly?
Currently flying a well aged Nimbus with over 1000 hours on it.
Should I be worried about my personal safety because of the airframe
hours?
Are there some days I just shouldn't fly because the "turbulence" might
be
"too high"?
All advice carefully considered.
Cheers!


Guy Byars wrote in article
...


I heard it was a high time glider in severe turbulence.

And that makes it ok?

In article ,
TOPSPAM says...

Same happens as with a wooden glider.......


JJ knows that...after all, wood and fiberglass are both composite aircraft;-)

Not really. Wood is a material used "as is", while composite aircraft
mix at least two materials together; e.g., epoxy and fiberglass.
Gluing or bolting materials together doesn't qualify as "composite".

You probably knew that...
--
!Replace DECIMAL.POINT in my e-mail address with just a . to reply
directly

Eric Greenwell
Richland, WA (USA)

Ahhh, now that is a completely different question. The material will last a
long, long time but if they haven't put any in the structure then all bets
are off!

Ian


"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message
...
Ian wrote a lifespan of 50000 ( yes
fifty
thousand ) hours with a high
level of safety" so your 1000 hour Nimbus is hardly out of the running in
period!

But what if they didn't use enough glue?

JJ Sinclair