Recommends Inspection, Replacement If Necessary

The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) due to an airworthiness concern on XtremeAir Models XA41 and Sbach 342 (manufactured by XtremeAir) airplanes. These airplanes are not type certificated in the United States, and thus not addressed by airworthiness directive action.

The FAA received EASA AD 2013-264-E, which applies to XtremeAir Models XA41 and XA42 airplanes (the Sbach 342 uses the same engine mount) and requires the immediate inspection of the engine mount, its replacement if cracks are found, and recurring inspections for cracks for those airplanes of registry in the Member States of the European Community.

EASA AD 2013-264-E requires compliance with XtremeAir Service Bulletin SB-2013-008-A.03, dated October 25, 2013.

Although not type-certificated in the United States, the Models XA41 and Sbach 342 airplanes could be operated through means such as an experimental certificate. Therefore, the FAA recommends that owners and operators of the affected XA41 and Sbach 342 airplanes comply with EASA AD 2013-264-E and XtremeAir Service Bulletin SB-2013-008-A.03, dated October 25, 2013.

(Sbach 342 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.faa.gov, EASA AD