Airworthiness Directives; DG Aviation GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Gliders
Key claim: Owners of DG Aviation DG-1000T gliders would still have to keep a flight-manual restriction, but could optionally install a redesigned propeller adapter to resume using the engine, and would have to inspect and reinstall the propeller adapter disk with safety pins while the old adapter rings would be banned.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-13-08, which applies to all DG Aviation GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders. AD 2025-13-08 requires revising the glider flight manual and installing “Motor INOP” placards to prohibit operation with the powerplant. Since issuance of AD 2025-13-08, a design improvement to the propeller adapter ring has been developed that is considered terminating action for the operational prohibition of AD 2025-13-08. This proposed AD would retain the requirement to revise the flight manual, would provide an optional terminating action for the retained actions by incorporating a specified modification, would allow removal of the “Motor INOP” placards following accomplishment of that optional terminating action, and would require removal, inspection, and reinstallation of the propeller adapter disk, including installation of safety pins. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected propeller adapter rings. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
Airworthiness directives for small aircraft like gliders show how the FAA uses the AD process not just to mandate fixes but to offer owners an optional path out of a flight restriction via a redesigned part. The DG-1000T action is a routine single-model directive but illustrates the pattern of pairing a mandatory flight-manual limitation with a voluntary modification that restores full capability. It adds another data point to the ongoing log of FAA ADs tracked in this area.