Airworthiness Directives; DG Aviation GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Gliders

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain DG Aviation GmbH (type certificate previously held by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH) Model DG-400 gliders and all Model DG-500 Elan Orion, DG-500 Elan Trainer, DG-500/20 Elan, DG-500/22 Elan, DG-500M, DG-500MB, DG-800A, DG-800B, DG-808C, DG-1000M, DG-1000S, and DG-1000T gliders. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken rod end at the upper end of the elevator pushrod in the fin (vertical tail) of a DG Aviation GmbH Model DG-300 glider. Depending on the glider model, this AD requires revising your existing glider maintenance manual to incorporate new procedures for elevator control circuit free play adjustment, performing an operational check of the free play adjustment of the automatic elevator hook-up, accomplishing corrective actions as required, and replacing the elevator pushrod end with a new part. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.