Pegasus 2BA Grounded
The FAA has published a recent Airworthiness Directive stating that all Pegasus gliders are limited to 3000 total flight hours. This arose because the original certification paperwork for the Pegasus in the U.S. stated there was a 3000 hour life and did not include a procedure for a major inspection at 3000 hours to extend the life beyond that point. In Europe, the Pegasus has a 12,000 hour life limit with major inspections required each 3000 hours. Once Centrair comes up with a 3000 hour inspection procedure that satisfies the FAA, the FAA should publish a new AD setting forth that procedure and allowing Pegasus gliders to be used beyond 3000 hours if the inspection is complied with. Hopefully, that new AD should come out in a few months.
In the meantime, Pegasus 2BA already has over 4000 hours on it, so it is not legal to fly in the U.S. Arguable, we might be able to fly it until the AD officially becomes effective on January 6, 2006, but the more prudent choice is to just stop flying it now.
Therefore, Pegasus 2BA is grounded until further notice. If any of the Reno area members have the time in the next few weeks, I ask that you go out to AirSailing and put the glider into its trailer to free up room in the hanger.
For more information on this Airworthiness Directive and its effect on BASA’s Pegasus fleet, see the December issue of the BASA Bugle, which will be mailed out today.
– Harry Fox