Thread: FAA report on the Zodiac. Not safe to fly!

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news..._202072-1.html

Interesting read.

Actually, that headline is misleading - or rather outdated. They were unsafe and were grounded. They have a kit that the FAA has approved to make them eligible for airworthiness certificates, and a number of them have already had the modifications completed.

The interesting part of this story to me, though, is contained in the full FAA report (link to PDF). It runs 40 pages but is mainly focused on ASTM standards and how, according to the FAA, Zenith/AMD/CZAW did not design to those specs. Some of it is engineering-speak that I don't fully comprehend, but there seem to be several different ways to interpret the standards. Apparently, the designer did agree with some of the FAA's points but not others -- and has not made every modification the FAA recommended. Nevertheless, the FAA considered the revised design and testing sufficient to allow the aircraft to fly again, though they have recommended further testing.

What remains to be seen is what, if any, impact this episode will have on the self-certification to ASTM standards that are part and parcel of the LSA rules.