Recommends Changes In Flight Manual For Flat Spin Recovery Procedures

The FAA has released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) directed to owners and operators of APEX Aircraft CAP 10B airplanes, all serial numbers, of an airworthiness concern, specifically the need to provide more detailed information in the airplane flight manual (AFM) concerning recovery from a flat spin.

A fatal accident occurred to a Model CAP 10C (commercial designation of CAP 10B above s/n 300) airplane in which the pilot lost control during a flat spin exercise. The investigators concluded that information contained in the aircraft flight manual (AFM) should be more detailed to ensure adequate recovery from a flat spin. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) No. 2012-0253 dated 30 November 2012 to require incorporating Revision 1 of the AFM and the installation of a modified placard for unintentional spin recovery procedure on the cockpit instrument panel in the same location as the previous one.

The FAA has requested the manufacturer Aupa Dyn’Aero to revise their SB No. BS641201 and revise their AFM to meet the FAA requirements. Dyn’Aero informed the FAA that they are in the process of completing the transfer of the type certificate (TC) of CAP 10C to another owner and after completion of the transfer, the validated FAA TC (after meeting necessary revisions and approvals) will be transferred to the new owner following EASA’s lead.

The FAA recommends compliance with EASA AD No. 2012-0253. The FAA will continue to monitor this situation and may make take additional action in the future.

FMI: www.faa.gov, EASA AD