< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Eurofox aircraft 6 Dec 2024 Inspection of Trim Tab Operating Cable Attachment to Prevent In-Flight Failures and replacement with Improved Design of Cable Attachment In 2016, the LAA issued an Alert, LAA/AWA/16/08 , regarding reported problems with the thin stranded steel elevator trim cable on Eurofox aircraft fraying at the attachment point to the trim tab operating horn, where the design forced the cable to be bent around the sharp edges of the clevis. The 2016 Alert also provided a link to, and served to promulgate, the Eurofox UK Service Bulletin on the subject, SB 04/2016 . Recently we’ve been advised of a potentially serious incident of elevator flutter on a Eurofox while towing a glider, which was caused by the trim cable failing altogether in flight where it passes around the trim tab operating horn clevis. This resulted in violent shaking of the elevator with serious potential for structural damage or loss of control. Since the cable had evidently frayed considerably before failing altogether, this occurrence highlights the importance inspecting the trim cable for signs of fraying at this point at each pre-flight and maintenance check, and, as the service bulletin explains, of keeping the clevis free-moving about its attachment to the tab so the clevis remains in line with the cable as the tab moves. This minimises the relative movement between the two which if occurring, would accelerate the wear on the cable. Eurofox UK advises that since the issue of the 2016 Service Bulletin, they have revised the design of the cable attachment clevis so that the cable now passes around a circular bush rather than being forced into two sharp bends, which reduces the wear on the cable and tendency to fray and eventually break. MTD-07-2024 , issued today, requires Owners/Operators to check whether the old or new design of clevises are fitted and for any signs of trim cable fraying before further flight. Owners/Operators must obtain and use a copy of the up-issued AEROPRO Checklist - B Service/Maintenance plan (Update Nov 2024 LAA aircraft) before the next 50-hour check. Finally, the trim cable system must be replaced immediately if any trim cable fraying is found, as detailed in the MTD. Furthermore, all Eurofoxes with the old-style of clevis must have the trim cable system replaced, as described in the MTD, by 1st June 2025. MTD-07-2024 Eurofox Trim Cable .pdf Download PDF • 495KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mark Bodger 23 Oct 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Mark Bodger as a new LAA Inspector. Mark has considerable experience on metal and wooden aircraft. He has rebuilt a Turbulent, Nipper, Colibri, Pitts, Vans RV-4 and completed new build projects including an Isaacs Fury and plans Replica SE5a. He has experience in VW engines, having rebuilt several. In his 30 years of LAA membership, he has owned over 20 LAA types, giving him a broad exposure to the maintenance of different aircraft. He also has the facilities to weigh aircraft. Congratulations Mark! 🎉 Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - James Coyne-Downhill 15 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome James Coyne-Downhill as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. James started flying at the age of 14 with the Air Cadets, flew solo on his 16th birthday, and earned his Private Pilot’s Licence at 18. By day, he works on Dassault Falcon 20 business jets as part of a base maintenance team, following an aircraft engineering apprenticeship at Cobham. Outside of work, he enjoys flying and maintaining Luscombe 8As. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Ben Davis 27 Nov 2025 We are pleased to welcome Ben Davis as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Ben has been an aircraft owner for about twenty years and has become something of a fan of the (mighty) Alpi Pioneer series. He’s owned several and flown several more. Ben has also refurbished and upgraded a number of Pioneers with new avionics, autopilots, and instruments. Along the way, he has owned and improved a Europa and a few other types, but he always seems to find his way back to a Pioneer! Ben also enjoys staring out of the front window of little biz jets. With a background in electronics, moving into avionics was a natural step for him. Ben is a Rotax iRMT (Line & Heavy), a BMAA Inspector, and now also an LAA Inspector, combining his technical background with years of hands-on experience. Ben is based at Finmere, just a short hop from LAA HQ, and is always happy to help other owners with maintenance, upgrades, or just a good aviation chat. You can find him sharing projects and flying adventures on social media as @benfly79. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mark Wilkinson 15 Aug 2025 We are pleased to welcome Mark Wilkinson as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Mark’s aviation career began with 11 years of service in the Royal Air Force, where he initially worked on the Bulldog and Chipmunk aircraft before progressing to the Tornado. Following his military service, Mark spent 25 years in commercial aviation, working primarily on large passenger aircraft - focusing on turboprops and regional jets. This period included a three-year relocation to France, where he was responsible for supporting a BAE146 aircraft. Mark then dedicated eight years to the initial setup and maintenance of the A400M program, before taking on a role maintaining the Grob Tutor aircraft - bringing his career full circle back to light aviation. From his early days working on the Bulldog, he has always had a genuine passion for light aviation. Mark would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the light aviation community, offering support and advice wherever he can. Next Previous

< Back LAA Inspector Seminar 14 Feb 2024 Last Thursday, 16 Inspectors attended an Inspector Training Seminar at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, run by our Chief Inspector Lucy Wootton, with the assistance of our Head of Flight Test, Andy Draper and Airworthiness Engineer, Cris Fernandez. LAA Inspectors are required to attend training once every four years. We had a great day - lots of knowledge shared and interesting discussions. Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for many Zenair types 14 Jan 2025 MTD-01-2025 - 'Inspection of horizontal stabiliser (tailplane) attachment brackets and associated hardware for cracks, looseness and other forms of distress' is issued for Zenair CH601, CH650, CH701, CH750 and variants of these four models. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. A number of cases have been found whereby the structural integrity of the horizontal stabiliser mountings on the Zenair types identified above have been compromised by one or more of the following: cracking of the attachment brackets oversize holes loose rivets distorted and chafed brackets. These problems could occur due to a number of factors including poor build quality, a build-up of tolerances in the positioning or dimensions of the brackets, improper assembly, rough treatment or in-flight vibration. Failure of a tailplane attachment could result in degraded controllability in flight or loss of control. Special inspections of this area have been recommended by Zenair since January 2017, in their document ‘Mandatory Action. Jan. 2017 – Inspection of Horizontal Stabilizer tail attachment brackets’. This Mandatory Technical Directive mandates this safety action for aircraft operating on LAA Permits to Fly. MTD-01-2025 - Zenair Tailplane Brackets .pdf Download PDF • 162KB Next Previous

< Back More new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt & Daniel Couzens 16 Jan 2024 It is time to introduce you to two new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt and Daniel Couzens, who both attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day in December, with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. Bryn is the Hangar Supervisor for Shenley Engineering at Headcorn Aerodrome. He has 20 years experience carrying out maintenance on a variety of fixed wing metal, composite and wooden airframes, supporting naturally aspirated and turbocharged Lycoming and Continental Engines, Gipsy Major and Renault 4P03 Engines. Daniel is an Aircraft Engineer based in Lincolnshire, as well as being a qualified CAA welder. The first aircraft he built was an Xair microlight. Congratulations to Bryn and Daniel! 🎊🎉 Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Sting S4 29 Sept 2023 LAA has been working with TL StingUK to correct an issue found during the flight testing of the factory-built version of the aircraft. It was found that the type would consistently drop the starboard wing more than the permitted maximum during a wings-level stall. LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-01-2023 has been issued that requires the installation of a stall strip on the starboard wing and two stall strips on the port wing, along with restricting the elevator travel, in accodance with TL StingUK service bulletins 0002 and 0003, before further flight. Next Previous

LAA Member Discounts

< Back MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 published - Eurofox Rudder Pedals 7 Jan 2026 MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 has been published to provide further information on the situation as it develops and asking Owners and Inspectors to report back. The inspection schedule in unchanged from Issue 1 or Issue 2. Therefore, Issue 3 does not require you or your Inspector to do anything different. If your aircraft has already been inspected to MTD-05-2025 Issue 1 or Issue 2, then the next time an inspection in accordance with the MTD is due, you Inspector should reference Issue 3 in their logbook entry. LAA is continuing to work towards achieving a permanent solution via a modification to the rudder pedal/torque tube design. MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 is attached below and can be found on the website HERE . 20260107 - MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 - Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking .pdf Download PDF • 883KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-05-2025 Issue 2 published - Eurofox Rudder Pedals 5 Dec 2025 MTD-05-2025 Issue 2 has been published to provide further information on the situation as it develops and asking Owners and Inspectors to report back. The inspection schedule in unchanged from Issue 1. Therefore, Issue 2 does not require you or your Inspector to do anything different. If your aircraft has already been inspected to MTD-05-2025 Issue 1, then the next time an inspection in accordance with the MTD is due, you Inspector should reference Issue 2 in their logbook entry. LAA is continuing to work towards achieving a permanent solution via a modification to the rudder pedal/torque tube design. MTD-05-2025 Issue 2 is attached below and can be found on the website HERE . MTD-05-2025 - Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 574KB Next Previous