< Back New LAA Inspector - Tomas del Carpio 15 Aug 2025 We are pleased to welcome Tomas del Carpio as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Living in the historic village of the former RAF Upper Heyford base, aviation is a part of Tomas’ life even outside of my daily job of restoring and maintaining vintage and modern light aircraft. He has been in the aircraft maintenance industry since 2008 but the age range of aircraft. He has worked on spans more than a century of aviation history. From helping to restore an original AVRO 504 to carrying out advanced composite carbon fibre repairs on a Diamond DA42, his experience covers a broad and diverse spectrum of aircraft types and technologies - both certified and non-certified. Whether it’s performing an engine change on a King Air in the dusty heat of Malta or changing a tyre on a stranded PA-28 in a muddy field in Kent, He has encountered a wide variety of challenges and learned something valuable from each one. Tomas is always happy to help and share his knowledge and experience whether it’s offering technical advice over the phone or getting hands-on with something more involved. Next Previous

< Back Alert A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts 25 Jul 2025 LAA Alert A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts On 11.4.25, Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd issued a new Service Bulletin, JSB 046, which applies to specific Jabiru 3300 engines and requires the replacement of the crankshafts on engines within certain serial number ranges, which they state were supplied between April 2017 and June 2024. Jabiru regards the Bulletin as mandatory. The Bulletin advises that Jabiru has identified that, as a result of an issue with heat treatment, crankshafts supplied with the affected engines are in some cases susceptible to failure. Jabiru have specified that the crankshaft must be replaced by a crankshaft of the later, improved design. Affected crankshafts must be replaced prior to 15th December 2026, or 150 hours total time in service (TTIS), whichever occurs later. A-08-2024 can be found HERE and is also shown below. A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts .pdf Download PDF • 202KB Next Previous

< 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 Alert A-12-2025 - Aeroprakt windscreens 14 Oct 2025 LAA Engineering has issued Alert A-12-2025 to highlight the recent issue of a series of Aeroprakt service bulletins that require older style windscreens to be replaced at certain intervals, with the Vne of the aircraft being temporarily reduced in certain circumstances. A-12-2025 - Aeroprakt windscreens issue 1 .pdf Download PDF • 231KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-06-2025 published - Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Mod Failure 16 Dec 2025 Ref: LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-06-2025 – Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Clamp Mod A recent inspection of a Europa fitted with the tailplane torque tube clamp modification, LAA MOD 10623, revealed both halves of the clamp had broken and fallen apart. These clamps are intended to prevent relative movement between the tailplane torque tube, the tailplane drive plates and the central drive horn, on which the mass balance arm is mounted. Failure of these clamps could allow free play to develop, potentially leading to taper pin hole damage, tailplane flutter, or jamming of the pitch control mechanism. An inspection must be carried out within the next 5 flying hours to determine whether MOD 10623 is fitted. If MOD 10623 clamps are fitted, making use of a light source and mirror as necessary, inspect the alloy clamp blocks for any signs of cracking (in particular along the sharp corner between the bolt flanges and main body), for any signs of looseness or relative movement between the parts and for any other abnormalities. If any of these are detected, the aircraft must not be flown and LAA Engineering must be contacted. This must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 25 flight-hours or the next Permit revalidation inspection, whichever occurs first, for as long as MOD 10623 remains fitted. Please refer to the below Mandatory Technical Directive for full details, compliance times, and certification requirements. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. MTD-06-2025 - Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Mod Failure .pdf Download PDF • 259KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-01-2026 Issue 1 Published - Shadow Aircraft Oratex Disbonding 15 Apr 2026 MTD-01-2026 - 'Oratex Disbonding' was issued today for Shadow aircraft. This MTD can be found HERE and is also attached below. This follows a reported incident in the UK in which Oratex covering on the upper surface of a Streak Shadow wing suffered a largescale disbond while in flight. No LAA Shadow aircraft with Oratex covering may fly after the effective date of this MTD unless you comply with this MTD. Please refer to the MTD-01-2026 document for full details of the mandatory requirements . For LAA Shadow aircraft not covered with Oratex, non-applicability of MTD-01-2026 should be recorded in the relevant logbook pink pages. 20260415 - MTD-01-2026 Issue 1 - Shadow Oratex Disbonding .pdf Download PDF • 259KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-05-2025 Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking 19 Nov 2025 MTD-05-2025 Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking - Mandatory Inspection requirements, which must be completed before your next flight There have been two reported instances in the UK of Eurofox aircraft experiencing cracking at the right-foot rudder pedal on the starboard seat side, where it is welded to the rudder pedal torque tube, leading to the pedal no longer being rigidly attached to the torque tube. On at least one of these instances, aircraft handling was negatively affected, reducing yaw authority and seriously degrading flight safety. Note that failure of the starboard side right-foot rudder pedal results in loss of rudder control, even when the aircraft is flown from the Pilot in Command position i.e. from the port seat side. Please refer to the MTD-05-2025 document below for full details of the mandatory inspection requirements, which must be completed before your next flight and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 10 flight-hours or the next Permit Revalidation inspection, whichever occurs first. MTD-05-2025 can be also found here MTD-05-2025 - Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking .pdf Download PDF • 247KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Ed Stinton 27 Mar 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Ed Stinton as a new LAA Inspector. Ed came to an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of March. Ed has restored two crash-damaged Avid flyers and one crash-damaged MW7. He also restored a barn-find ARV Super2, including Rotax engine conversion. He has been involved with numerous RV builds, including his own Harmon Rocket (modified RV4). Ed has held CAA approvals for welding carbon steels. He is experienced with fabric, wood and composites, Wankel Rotary and Lycoming engines. Ed has worked with both two-stroke and four-stroke Rotax engines. He has worked for MidWest engines, Diamond Aircraft and numerous maintenance organisations. Next Previous

< Back Engineering updates in August and September 1 Oct 2024 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during August and September. Standard modifications: Europa SM12871 cockpit fresh air rotary ventilators issue 2 Propeller type lists PTL-1 : Aeronca 7-series Kitfox mk1-mk3 Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert published for Gen 4’ Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines 1 Mar 2025 LAA Alert A-03-2025 has been published on the LAA website (and is also attached), highlighting the recent service bulletin, JSP 051, published by Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd, which applies to specific Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines and requires the replacement of the pistons on engines within certain serial number ranges, which they state were supplied between April 2017 and August 2019. Jabiru regards the Bulletin as mandatory. The Bulletin advises that Jabiru has identified that pistons supplied with the affected engines were in some cases susceptible to failure, and have specified that the pistons must be replaced by pistons of the later, improved design at or before 200 hours running time, following the procedures shown in the engine overhaul book, including any necessary running-in provisions and choice of oils. A-03-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines .pdf Download PDF • 201KB Next Previous

< Back Eurofox Rudder Pedal Failures - LAA Standard Modification Approved & MTD-05-2025 Issue 4 19 Jan 2026 LAA Standard Modification SM16826 provides a terminating action to the 10-hour inspections required in LAA MTD-05-2025, which has now been up-issued to ISSUE 4 The LAA Standard Modification – SM16826 ‘ Reinforcement of Rudder Pedal to Torque Tube Joints ’ has been through our internal review process and is now formally approved. SM16826 strengthens all 4 pedal joints by the addition of welded steel, wrap-around finger plates. Incorporating this standard modification provides a terminating action to the 10-hour inspections required in LAA MTD-05-2025, which has now been up-issued to Issue 4. The CAA have also confirmed that incorporating this modification will be a terminating action for CAA MPD-2026-002-E and we expect the MPD to be upissued this week to reflect this. Once Standard Modification SM16826 is completed, owners will need to submit an LAA/MOD 1 Form ( Standard Mod Incorporation ) to let us know that the modification has been embodied, so that we can update our records at LAA HQ. A copy of Form LAA/MOD 1 is here . As a CAA-approved welder is required for this modification, owners have been provided with a list of CAA welders known to the LAA. MTD-05-2025 - Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking Issue 4 .pdf Download PDF • 913KB SM16826 Reinforcement of Rudder Pedals Issue 1 .pdf Download PDF • 743KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Gary Priestley 4 Dec 2025 We are pleased to welcome Gary Priestley as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston. Gary started at BAe Filton as an Aeronautical Engineering Apprentice in 1978. His first day out of the training bay was spent working on the test and development Concorde 002. During his apprenticeship he worked on the VC10's air-to-air refuelling conversion and on test and development for Airbus on the fly-by-wire BAC 1-11. After his apprenticeship he became an Inspector on the F1-11s, with his main role involving pre- and post-inspection of the Cold Soak, where the aircraft were frozen and bent to re-life them. He transferred to Warton for the Al-Yamama project, working on Tornado ADVs and IDS aircraft in Saudi Arabia. Gary returned in 1990 and was recruited as a technical instructor at British Aerospace Filton, teaching the following: Concorde pilots and flight engineers, utilising the simulator to help them pass their ground school type rating. Aircraft fitters working toward their B2 and B1 licences, as well as type courses on the A300 B4 and A300-600, where the aircraft were being converted to freighters. The BAC 1-11 refresher course for the Sultan of Oman Air Force pilots. Type rating for British Airways Concorde engineers at Heathrow. Apprentices studying for their City and Guilds. Night-school City and Guilds for non-skilled fitters. While carrying out this training, he repaired a Robin HR 200 with the help of the apprentices and studied for his Commercial and subsequently his Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. Gary left BAe in 1999 to fly the BAe 146 for CityJet in Dublin, before being asked, through CityJet, if he would like to transfer to British Midland to fly the BAe 146 for Lufthansa. A few years later he was made redundant, gained his Helicopter Commercial Pilot’s Licence, but was then asked to join Flightline on the BAe 146, flying oil-rig workers from Aberdeen to Scatsta and later working out of Manchester for British Airways. An opportunity arose to fly with Titan Airways in Stansted, flying ad-hoc standby for British Airways, easyJet, and others. Several years later he completed a type-rating course on the Boeing 737 to fly from Exeter. He took voluntary redundancy in 2013. By chance, after buying a prestigious car from someone who owned an aircraft at Middlezoy, Gary made the connection that brought him into affiliation with Middlezoy Aerodrome, where he now has a share in Louis, the Taylorcraft type D, and is 50% owner of the Isaac Fury. Next Previous