SPARS TO TADS

Focus on TADS

LAA Chief Inspector, Ken Craigie explains the change from SPARS to TADS…

There is still work to be done, but the Engineering department felt the LAA website-based Type Acceptance Data Sheets (TADS) system had matured sufficiently to enable a changeover from Permit renewal inspections in accordance with SPARS, to Permit renewal inspections in accordance with (iaw) TADS, and inspectors have been instructed that this change became effective for inspections from the beginning of February 2021. Incidentally, for those wondering, the name of SPARS came from the admittedly rather clumsy NoteS to PFA AircRaft InSpectors, effectively the Inspectors’ bible they refer to when inspecting your aircraft.

So, for all Permit renewal inspections your LAA Inspector must now declare on the blue LAA/FWR-1 Permit Renewal Form for fixed-wing aircraft (see later for gyroplanes) that the inspection has been carried out iaw with the particular Number and Issue Number of the TADS that applies to the aircraft type in question. Unfortunately, Permit renewal applications not presented iaw TADS, or with incorrect or out of date TADS data, are likely to be rejected. So, your Inspector must have checked the TADS applicable to your particular aircraft type prior to carrying out the inspection.

Aircraft owners

One major advantage of the changeover discussed above is that all the assembled technical information becomes equally available to everybody, not least of course aircraft owners, who after all remain primarily responsible for the airworthiness condition of their aircraft, and for compliance with requirements.

Naturally, just like the rest of us, some Inspectors may be less tech-savvy than others, so why not download and print off a copy of the relevant TADS for your aircraft and have it on hand when he arrives? It wouldn’t be a bad idea for your own preparedness either, so that you are aware of any inspection or maintenance requirements added since the previous inspection – new material is added to TADS as and when required.

Finding TADS

Go onto the LAA website homepage (www.laa.uk.com), select ‘Aircraft & Technical’ and then ‘Data Library’ – and the Aircraft, Gyroplane, Engine and Propeller TADS will appear at the top of the list. There will soon be an ‘Equipment’ TADS as well and we’ll let you know as soon as that work has been completed, although it remains work in progress for now.

Apart from scrolling down the aircraft TADS list to locate a particular type, you can search by using the ‘letter’ shortcuts at the top of the page, or hold down Ctrl and press ‘F’, whereupon a search box will appear. Above The SPARS book has been used by Inspectors for many years but was unavailable to members. All TADS are available on the LAA website.

One thing to look out for when searching TADS is that you need to remember to search by manufacturer, not type. So, for example, ‘Bulldogs’ will be found under Scottish Aviation, ‘Glasairs’ will be listed under Stoddart Hamilton, and ‘Rebels’ will be under Murphy, so be careful not to rely on the Default TADS (see later) too readily, be sure to conduct a thorough search.

Section 2

Apart from a small number soon to be updated, the format of TADS is constant throughout the library, and each TADS is presented in such a way that it is always Section 2 of the TADS that provides the ‘mandatory’ information which Inspectors must be aware of (and must satisfy as appropriate).

As a minimum, Inspectors (and owners) must consult Section 2 of the aircraft’s TADS at each Permit renewal inspection. However, it nevertheless remains good practice to review all the information provided in the remainder of a given TADS, which is there to help make an owner’s and an Inspector’s task an easier one, and to enable useful information, safety tips and experience from incidents to be passed on. Although only the ‘Aircraft’ TADS data is required to be entered on the Permit Renewal Form, your Inspector must also consult the applicable ‘Engine’ TADS (where there is one) and also the ‘Propeller’ TADS and, eventually, an ‘Equipment’ TADS.

Form info required

The title block of each TADS specifies the Issue Number (and also sometimes a Revision letter, which for these purposes can be ignored). The title block will additionally provide a brief description of changes made since the last issue and a sidebar will appear, where applicable, indicating where text has changed, or been added.

For years Inspectors have been used to entering the number of the latest SPARS Amendment at Section 3 on page 4 of the standard Permit Renewal application form. Now, instead of the SPARS AMENDMENT number, they must enter the Number and Issue Number of the applicable Aircraft TADS. For example, if he were inspecting a Eurofox, the current TADS is No 376, at Issue 7, Revision B, so your form should show TADS 376 Issue 7, thereby confirming that he has consulted Section 2 of the relevant Aircraft TADS, and that he has ensured satisfaction with any requirements posted therein. They do not have to enter the TADS data for the Engine, Propeller or Equipment TADS, but should have consulted these documents and satisfied any requirements described therein in the same way. Future reprints of the Permit Renewal Form will of course provide suitably modified text.

Default TADS No 000

Most of the LAA aircraft fleet is now covered with typespecific TADS. However, with over 500 different types under LAA oversight there inevitably remains a few types not yet covered by a TADS. In this circumstance, having checked and assured themselves there are no type-specific TADS yet available, Inspectors must check into the Default TADS No 000 (found at the top of the TADS list), and be sure to comply with the instructions provided therein. He or she then enters the Default TADS Number ‘000’ and the Issue Number onto the renewal form – not forgetting to nevertheless consult with the Engine (and Propeller) TADS, if there is one.

Amateur-built gyroplanes

Creation of TADS for amateur-built gyroplanes are well advanced and will be available on the website very soon. Until then, Inspectors will continue to refer to the latest SPARS Amendment when completing the ‘green’ amateurbuilt gyroplane Permit renewal forms.

Factory-built gyroplanes (FBG)

aircraft is a special case. Inspectors of these aircraft should go to the Gyro TADS list on the LAA website, through which they will be able to access the CAA TADS for the type. For the time being, nothing will change for this group of aircraft, and FBG Inspectors should continue to enter the CAA TADS data, and the SPARS data onto the FBG green Permit renewal form, as they do now.

Log book entries

It has become established good practice, when completing aircraft and engine (and propeller) log book entries in relation to a Permit renewal inspection, that as well as providing an appropriately descriptive summary of work carried out, Inspectors have described the inspection as having been carried out in accordance with the latest SPARS amendment number. We think that now it would be good practice to continue with this approach, but to modify the statement to confirm that inspection has been carried out iaw the relevant Aircraft TADS Number and Issue Number.

Below The SPARS reference lined through and the appropriate TADS entry correctly entered for the example in the text. In due course, Inspectors will be supplied with a label to use for this purpose but the above is perfectly satisfactory. Teething troubles

Unsurprisingly, Permit renewal applications received up to the end of February are significantly down compared to this time last year – around 100, which is less than half of normal. On the whole, ‘quality’ has been good, but around a half-dozen have failed due to Inspectors not having correctly signed out their inspection to be in accordance with TADS. Errors so far include signing off to SPARS, entering the wrong TADS number, or wrongly entering the Default TADS number when there is in fact a TADS covering the type – just a little more attention to detail would have sorted it, in most cases. As mentioned above, you need to search by manufacturer, not type.

Having said that, as has long been the case, most failed applications occur because of missing or incorrect owner/pilot data input. Such data is not the direct responsibility of your Inspector, but it does really help when Inspectors step up to the role of ‘mentor’ and actively coach owners and pilots to ensure that their data entry is complete and accurate, so by all means ask your Inspector to check your Renewal Form if you are at all unsure that you have completed it correctly. ■