AD/Para/15 Amdt 1 VEGA 120 Type Reserve Canopy (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PARA/15 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Parachute Equipment

AD/PARA/15 Amdt 1 VEGA 120 Type Reserve Canopy 1/2008 DM

Applicability:

VEGA 120 type reserve canopies manufactured by the PARACHUTE SHOP company.

Requirement:

Reserve canopies that have been modified by the PARACHUTE SHOP by adding a strengthening ribbon into the lap-seam of the trailing edge in accordance with Technical Procedure P7001, dated 17 March 2007, are allowed for flight use provided a marking has been applied to the canopy that states the modification has been incorporated.

Note:  DGAC AD F-2007-005 R1 refers.

Compliance:

From the effective date of this Directive.

This Amendment becomes effective on 30 November 2007.

Background:

During an emergency application of a VEGA 120 type reserve canopy, the parachutist noticed a tear starting from the trailing edge.  A safe landing was accomplished despite the parachute damage.  This was the first use of this canopy, and the parachutist weighed only 50kg.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD, which requires that modified reserve canopies have a modification and a marking applied to the canopy.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

27 November 2007