Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-10-16
February 9, 2010
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you,
owners and operators of Liberty Aerospace, Inc. Model XL-2 airplanes,
of an issue concerning the passenger/crew doors.
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition
that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
There have been six occurrences of a door opening in-flight on Liberty
XL-2 airplanes. In all six cases, the pilot has been able to land the
airplane safely and there is evidence the door was not properly latched
before takeoff.
The two passenger/crew entrance doors on the XL-2 are gull wing type
doors with hinges on the top edge of the doors. If a door is not
properly closed and latched prior to flight, the airflow during flight
could cause the door to open. The open door could separate from the
airplane and could cause damage to the airplane empennage or injure
someone on the ground.
Liberty Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December
15, 2009, to provide a new rear tapered door pin for each door and to
publish airplane flight manual (AFM) revisions. The new rear tapered
door pin will allow for easier latching of the door. The AFM revisions
include additional notes and warnings in the checklists for the pilot
to check the engagement of both the front and rear door pins in their
receptacles before takeoff.
Recommendation
We encourage owners and maintenance personnel to have the new rear door
pin installed on their Model XL-2 airplane in accordance with Liberty
Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December 15, 2009, at the
next scheduled maintenance event. We also recommend that an updated AFM
be onboard the airplane as soon as possible.
For Further Information Contact
Cindy Lorenzen, Program Manager, FAA, Central Region, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone (404)474-5524; fax (404)474-5606; email:
Cindy.Lorenzen@faa.gov.
For Related Service Information Contact
Contact Liberty Aerospace for a copy of the service bulletin and AFM
revision for your airplane at 321-752-0332 or use your owner login on
Liberty’s website, www.libertyaircraft.com, to download the
information, or email CustomerSupport@libertyaircraft.com.