FAA grounds Zodiacs

For the first time in history, the FAA has suspended issuance of any new airworthiness certificates for an entire fleet of special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) — the Zodiac CH601XL and CH650 — and the FAA will not issue airworthiness certificates to experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) and amateur built versions of CH601XL and CH605 aircraft until modified in a manner consistent with the manufacturer’s safety alert is performed, according a report EAA.org.

The story notes:

This unprecedented action, issued by the FAA on Thursday, Nov. 12, follows a Safety Alert issued by Aircraft Manufacturers and Design (AMD), which came after FAA’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) was issued on Nov. 7. Thursday’s memorandum prevents issuance of any new S-LSA airworthiness certificates until they are in compliance with the AMD safety alert, and effectively grounds those S-LSA already certificated. For certificated E-LSA and amateur-built CH601XL and CH605 aircraft, the FAA strongly recommends current owners to comply with actions contained in AMD’s Safety Alert.