< Back More new LAA Inspectors - Patryk Nelkowski & Pete Nicholson 2 Feb 2024 It is time to introduce you to two more new LAA Inspectors - Patryk Nelkowski and Pete Nicholson, who both attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day in January, with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. Patryk is a UK CAA licensed aircraft engineer (B1.1/B1.2/B3) based in the south west of England. Currently in the Greater London area on Pilatus, Cirrus and Tecnam aircraft as part of his day job. He has a wide-ranging aircraft maintenance background, with experience on commercial aircraft, such as the A220, Dash 8, and Embraers right through to Cessnas, Pipers, RVs and a variety of other aircraft including warbirds. In his spare time, he is involved in the maintenance and restoration of classic cars and historic military vehicles and their engines. After studying an engineering degree, Pete's professional career covered a wide range of electronic and communications systems, during which flying and maintaining both powered aircraft and gliders was a passionate hobby. After being lucky enough to take early retirement, his hobby has become a significant part of his activities and he particularly enjoys using his background and experience to work on Avionic systems. Next Previous

< Back Nick Stone appointed as the LAA's Head of Airworthiness 24 Oct 2023 The LAA is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Stone as the LAA’s Head of Airworthiness. Nick brings a vast wealth of aircraft knowledge as well as a real world understanding of the need for good process and procedure. Having started his career in the Royal Air Force, Nick went on to work in the aerospace industry working in the UK with British Aerospace and Slingsby Aviation at various sites and projects, as an inspector, methods engineer and quality engineer. Nick then moved to the United States at Eastern Airlines in Miami Florida, Learjet in Wichita Kansas and Chihuahua Mexico as inspection/Quality representative of Shorts Aerospace (Bombardier Aerospace). Following a downturn in the British Aerospace industry he then took an opportunity to move into the nuclear industry working in both reprocessing and power generation. Throughout Nick's working life the one constant has been a passion for aviation. Having started as a volunteer at a local aircraft museum at 14, Nick started flying at the age of 16 in gliders and has a private pilot’s licence PPL(A). Prior to becoming an LAA inspector Nick spent many years building, rebuilding, and restoring vintage aircraft, the more unusual the better. “As an LAA inspector I understand the need to move forward and change and adapt to an ever changing but exciting world. Having run my own aircraft restoration company for the last seven years I always felt it is important to understand your customers”. LAA CEO Simon Tilling said, “Nick is a great addition to the LAA staff. I and the rest of the team are looking forward to working with him in the near future” Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert - FAA issues AD for Piper rudder posts 14 Feb 2025 Replacement of rudder posts not made from 4130N On 13.02.25, FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 2025-02-11 which requires the replacement of the rudder post on a large number of Piper types, where the part is not made from 4130N steel. Compliance time varies between 2 years and 10 years depending on whether a beacon light is fitted to the top of the fin post and depending on the power of the engine installed. LAA Alert A-01-2025 has been created to communicate this to potentially affected owners. A-01-2025 Piper rudder post AD .pdf Download PDF • 196KB Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert A-14-2025 - Eurofox Fuel Line Disconnected In-Flight 11 Dec 2025 LAA Alert A-14-2025 - Eurofox Fuel Line Disconnected In-Flight A non-LAA, Factory-Built Eurofox with a Rotax 915, fuel-injected engine experienced an in-flight engine shut down due to the high pressure (4.5 Bar) fuel hose connecting the high-pressure fuel pump unit to the master fuel valve becoming detached from the master fuel valve during flight. This resulted in the engine stopping and a serious fuel leak in the cockpit. It is believed that a combination of the fitting’s shallow barbs, and a small fuel leak of high-pressure fuel through the scratched/cut hose lubricated the fitting’s brass surface and allowed the hose to slide off the fitting. Owners and Inspectors should pay close attention to fuel hose condition and attachment security during inspections. Any signs of movement, wear, or mismatch between hose and fitting must be addressed before the aircraft flies again. Please refer to the attached Alert here for full details and recommended checks. A-14-2025 - Eurofox Fuel Line Disconnected In-Flight .pdf Download PDF • 145KB Next Previous

< Back Alert A-11-2025 - Eurostar aileron rose joint and rudder hinge inspection 8 Oct 2025 LAA Engineering has issued Alert A-11-2025 to highlight the recent issue of an Airmasters service bulletin that requires checks on the integrity of a rose joint in the aileron controls and the rudder hinge, following examples of these joints migrating and jamming aileron controls. Following the up-issue of Airmasters SB/EUR/023 to issue 3, on 07/10/25 CAA has issued MPD 2025-004-E to mandate the checks contained in the SB, which supersedes MPD 2025-003-E initially issued on the subject. A-11-2025 - Eurostar Rose Joints issue 1 .pdf Download PDF • 372KB Next Previous

< Back Alert A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking 25 Jul 2025 LAA Alert A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking A cracked aileron servo-tab pushrod was found on a UK Glastar aircraft. The pushrod consists of a thin-walled aluminium tube with an adjustable clevis at one end, and a fixed clevis at the other. The crack was at the adjustable end of the pushrod, and extended from the end of the aluminium tube to the hole approximately 1 inch from the end. A cracked aileron servo-tab pushrod must be considered unairworthy, and replaced before further flight. A-07-2024 can be found HERE and is also attached. A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking .pdf Download PDF • 562KB Next Previous

< Back New Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection 3 Dec 2024 The LAA is very pleased to announce that Lucy Wootton has been appointed as the new Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection. LAA CEO Simon Tilling continues: “We have taken the opportunity to bring together the inspection and airworthiness teams under one leader. Currently Continuing Airworthiness and our nationwide team of Inspectors are interdependent functions, bringing them together allows for closer co-operation and the alignment of objectives and actions. This new, combined team has the overall objective of ensuring and maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the LAA fleet of more than 2,700 aircraft. It’s responsibilities will include: Airworthiness audits (ACAMs) Permit to Fly Revalidation Process & PFRCs Tracking, analysis, and management of airworthiness issues and identification of solutions Promulgation of continuing airworthiness Information (TADS, Alerts, TSBs, MTDs, Light Aviation Magazine, website) External Liaison (AAIB, CAA, BGA, BMAA) Inspector Induction Support Training, development, and record keeping Communication Performance management Authorisations Contribution to processes and procedures (EPM, Exposition, SPARS, TLs etc) Lucy joined the LAA in August 2022 as Chief Inspector. She has a first-class Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering, with Honours, from Loughborough University, having spent five years there, including a year’s placement at Rolls-Royce in Failure Investigation, for which she achieved a Diploma in Industrial Studies. Lucy has also been a British Gliding Association Inspector for more than 10 years, as well as an ARC Signatory. Lucy holds a PPL(A) for both single-engine piston aircraft and touring motor gliders, with a night rating, instrument rating(restricted) and sailplane towing rating. Prior to joining the LAA, Lucy worked as an Aircraft Structural Repair Design Engineer for a major aeronautical engineering organisation. Since joining the LAA as Chief Inspector, Lucy has been instrumental in the continuing development of the LAA Inspectorate, who are recognised for their knowledge and skills and professionalism across the aviation industry." Next Previous

< Back MTD-02-2025 issued - Mission M108 Nose Leg Failures - ISSUE 2 14 Aug 2025 MTD-02-2025 - 'Nose leg failures' has been upissued to reflect the availability of alternative parts from the manufacturer. This MTD can be found HERE Three instances of nose leg failure have occurred in the past 12 months, two of which recently. This MTD mandates the regular inspection of this area until replacement parts, now available from Lambert Aircraft Engineering, are installed. Next Previous

< Back The importance of airfield location 12 Feb 2024 The first results of a survey conducted by the new Strategic Airfield Network (SAN) indicate that location is the number one reason airfields consider themselves important. For more information, head to the Flyer article below: https://flyer.co.uk/location-location-location-airfields-are-important/ Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Paul Armstrong 16 Jul 2025 We are pleased to welcome Paul Armstrong as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Paul started flying gliders at the age of 15, later progressing to TMG and then to light aeroplanes about 20 years ago. Maintaining aircraft as a part of his hobby is now an integral part of a love of aviation that is approaching its 50th year. Next Previous

< Back Inspector Renewal 19 Mar 2024 It's that time of year again! LAA Inspector Authorisations lapse at the end of this month. Renewing is simple, available both on and offline. In order to renew this year, Inspectors need to carry out two simple steps, which are as follows: Complete and sign the ' Inspector Declaration, ' which was emailed to all Inspectors on 4th March, and return to LAA Engineering, either as a scanned document or in the post. Pay the Inspector Renewal Fee , which is £40 and covers administration of an Inspector Authorisation throughout the year. (For Inspectors of Factory Built Gyroplanes, there is no longer an additional fee. All Inspectors pay £40). Inspectors can pay via the LAA shop, found here , or by giving us a call with their payment card details. Alternatively, Inspectors can pay by Bank Transfer. Inspectors' continuing support is crucial and we sincerely hope that all Inspectors will renew. Next Previous

< Back Engineering updates in August & September 7 Oct 2025 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during August and September. Continuing airworthiness information : Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-01-2025 - Zenair tailplane brackets - issue 2 Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-02-2025 - Mission M108 nose gear - issue 2 Alert A-09-2025 - Woodcomp Klassic propeller blades Alert A-10-2025 - Cracking in E-Props carbon propeller hubs Propeller type lists PTL/1 : Jodel D117/D119/D120 Next Previous