3000 Lifetime

[Webmaster]

Here is a note from Pierre Beaudouin:

Hi,

I own a Ximango (AMT 100) and have flown 2200 hours on it. I am considering opening the ownership in partnership with another pilot, who asked me about the TBO for the cell... I had not worried about it so far. I found in the maintenance book that the cell life is limited to 3000 hours, and René Fournier confirmed that the RF10 was originally so defined.

However, the composite structure of these aircrafts is exactly similar to that of modern gliders such as Janus, or other Pegase, and some composite ultralights. which are autorized up to 12000 flight hours, and some are not even limited.

I know that many people in the States fly a lot more than in Europe, and I guess that many have reached higher flight hours than me, so I wonder how they solved the problem of the 3000 hours limit, which seems to be a nonsense.

I had no response from Aeromot on the subject… they may have other priorities….

So I wondered if you who own an AMT200 –closely identical to the AMT100 as far as the cell is concerned- have the same limit, or if the airworthiness authorities in the USA have taken position on this limit, and accepted to make it consistant with other identically built aircrafts.

Hoping you can help me with this information, eventually with other owners in the States, thanks in advance.

With my best regards…

Good flights!

Pierre Beaudouin

HELIO INTERNATIONAL
Paroles de Nature
Président d'Honneur de la FRAPNA

[Webmaster]

Here is a response from Horst Stratmann:

My maintenance manual has the following entry:

8. Useful life of motorglider

The useful life of the motorglider structure is limited to 3000 hours being extended progressively to 4000, 5000, and 6000 hours if inspection procedures in SB no. A100-10-021 are accomplished in a Maintenance Shop authorized by Aeromot. Any other life limit extension only may be done with prior CTA and FAA approval.