Accident G-CDFK
Jabiru UL-450 (G-CDFK), loss of power shortly after takeoff with subsequent stall and spin.
AAIB Report: Jabiru UL-450, G-CDFK on 4 April 2023
Safety Recommendation: 2024-013
It is recommended that the UK Civil Aviation Authority mandate a suitable life limit for the carburettor to plenum chamber coupling, Jabiru part number 4691084 (or equivalent parts), to ensure the couplings are removed from use before a crack can propagate.
Further to our previous updates, the CAA has continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA, whilst they undertake detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures relating to life-limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an appropriate assessment has been carried out and a suitable justification is documented within the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting between the CAA, BMAA and LAA was held in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then, both organisations have been working to develop and enhance guidance material and supporting processes relating to the management of life-limited components within their respective fleets.
Following further engagement between the BMAA and LAA in February 2026 to ensure a consistent and aligned approach, draft guidance material was submitted to the CAA for review.
The CAA has since been advised by the LAA that publication of this guidance has been delayed slightly from the originally anticipated timescale due to unforeseen circumstances and competing operational priorities. However, the LAA has informed us that it intends to publish an article on the management of life-limited items in the September 2026 edition of Light Aviation. In parallel, procedural updates will be communicated to inspectors to support consistent application of the revised policy.
The associated technical leaflet on life-limited items, together with updates to the generic maintenance schedule and a new time expiring components tracking supplement form, are currently in the final stages of drafting and are expected to be issued as part of the planned communications programme.
The CAA continues to liaise with the BMAA regarding their proposed guidance.
These actions are intended to strengthen the management and oversight of life-limited components and provide aircraft owners and inspectors with improved processes for recording occasions where components exceed manufacturers' recommended lives, together with the engineering assessment and justification supporting continued use.
The CAA will continue to monitor progress with both organisations and will provide a further update on actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of November 2026.
Partially Adequate Open
November 2026
AAIB Recommendation transmittal
Date
13/06/2024
Status
Open
CAA Initial Update
Date
13/09/2024
BCAR Section A (CAP 553), Chapter A3-7, paragraph 12 requires life limited components to be identified, recorded and checked to ensure that life limits are not exceeded. At the time of the accident the carburettor to plenum chamber coupling (part number 4691084) had exceeded its life limit by 11 years. There was no evidence of the coupling having been inspected in the years prior to the accident, recognising that it was operating beyond its life limit. Had such a check been performed, the CAA considers it likely that the deterioration would have been identified, resulting in the coupling being replaced.
The CAA also recognises that it may be acceptable to exceed manufacturer life limits for some components if an assessment has been conducted and a suitable justification is recorded in the continuing airworthiness record system. Such an approach should ensure that components like the Jabiru coupling remain airworthy and may be as effective as a mandate.
Before considering issuing a mandate, the CAA believes it is appropriate to first liaise with the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) and the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) with respect to their processes for conducting airworthiness reviews to ensure life limited components are identified and recorded, with any exceedances suitably justified.
The CAA will provide an update on the actions taken to address this safety recommendation by the end of March 2025.
Status
Open
AAIB Classification
Date
29/10/2024
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
29/08/2025
Further to our previous responses, CAA have been liaising with the BMAA and LAA and we asked them to review their current policies and procedures in relation to life limited components. As part of this review process, all parties have now undertaken a review of the existing process on how Part 21 aircraft are managed with respect to life limited components and running ‘On Condition’ so that any determination for BMAA/LAA permit to fly aircraft are appropriately proportionate. A trilateral meeting will be held between CAA/BMAA/LAA in Autumn 2025 to agree the proposed policy position before further consultation with the A8-1 and A8-21 microlight manufacturers to ensure alignment.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an assessment has been conducted and a suitable justification is documented in the continuing airworthiness record system. The current approach being considered by the LAA is to introduce methods that allow owners to actively record instances where parts have surpassed the manufacturer’s recommended life, along with the justification for doing so. This could involve modifying generic maintenance schedules to include prompts for these records or creating a separate form to be inserted into the logbook. We recognise that the BMAA already offers comprehensive guidance on this topic in BMAA TIL044. However, further development of this technical information leaflet may be warranted following additional discussions with the CAA.
The CAA will provide a further update on the actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by 28th February 2026.
AAIB Classification
Date
25/09/2025
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
26/02/2025
Further to our previous responses, the CAA have continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA with detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures in relation to life limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an assessment has been conducted and a suitable justification is documented in the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting was held between the CAA/BMAA/LAA in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then both the BMAA/LAA have been working to update several Technical Leaflets (LAA) and Technical Information Leaflets (BMAA) to provide further suitably detailed guidance on life limited parts for their respective fleets. In addition, there are currently planned improvements in progress to generic maintenance schedules and where generic schedules are not used, forms proposed to supplement and track time expiring components, all to strengthen policy and controls in this area.
Following a meeting during February 2026 between the BMAA and LAA, which ensured continued alignment, the draft technical leaflets/technical information leaflets have now been provided for the CAA’s review. The continued development of documentation will continue with both organisations planning to brief their inspectorate during Spring 2026, so they are fully conversant with the policies and documentation, before eventual phased release to aircraft owners via planned targeted communications. In addition, further discussions with the A8-1 and A8-21 microlight manufacturers will be considered.
All of this aims to ensure that components can be managed satisfactorily to allow owners to actively record instances where parts have surpassed the manufacturer’s recommended life, along with the clear justification for doing so, in a more controlled manner.
The CAA will provide a further update on the actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of July 2026.
AAIB Classification
Date
26/03/2026
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
30/07/2026
Further to our previous updates, the CAA has continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA, whilst they undertake detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures relating to life-limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an appropriate assessment has been carried out and a suitable justification is documented within the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting between the CAA, BMAA and LAA was held in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then, both organisations have been working to develop and enhance guidance material and supporting processes relating to the management of life-limited components within their respective fleets.
Following further engagement between the BMAA and LAA in February 2026 to ensure a consistent and aligned approach, draft guidance material was submitted to the CAA for review.
The CAA has since been advised by the LAA that publication of this guidance has been delayed slightly from the originally anticipated timescale due to unforeseen circumstances and competing operational priorities. However, the LAA has informed us that it intends to publish an article on the management of life-limited items in the September 2026 edition of Light Aviation. In parallel, procedural updates will be communicated to inspectors to support consistent application of the revised policy.
The associated technical leaflet on life-limited items, together with updates to the generic maintenance schedule and a new time expiring components tracking supplement form, are currently in the final stages of drafting and are expected to be issued as part of the planned communications programme.
The CAA continues to liaise with the BMAA regarding their proposed guidance.
These actions are intended to strengthen the management and oversight of life-limited components and provide aircraft owners and inspectors with improved processes for recording occasions where components exceed manufacturers' recommended lives, together with the engineering assessment and justification supporting continued use.
The CAA will continue to monitor progress with both organisations and will provide a further update on actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of November 2026.
Safety Recommendation: 2024-014
It is recommended that the UK Civil Aviation Authority consider mandating a suitable life limit for components used in similar applications to the Jabiru carburettor to plenum chamber coupling on other engine and aircraft types, to ensure the components are removed from use before their condition deteriorate beyond an airworthy condition.
Further to our previous updates, the CAA has continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA, whilst they undertake detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures relating to life-limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an appropriate assessment has been carried out and a suitable justification is documented within the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting between the CAA, BMAA and LAA was held in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then, both organisations have been working to develop and enhance guidance material and supporting processes relating to the management of life-limited components within their respective fleets.
Following further engagement between the BMAA and LAA in February 2026 to ensure a consistent and aligned approach, draft guidance material was submitted to the CAA for review.
The CAA has since been advised by the LAA that publication of this guidance has been delayed slightly from the originally anticipated timescale due to unforeseen circumstances and competing operational priorities. However, the LAA has informed us that it intends to publish an article on the management of life-limited items in the September 2026 edition of Light Aviation. In parallel, procedural updates will be communicated to inspectors to support consistent application of the revised policy.
The associated technical leaflet on life-limited items, together with updates to the generic maintenance schedule and a new time expiring components tracking supplement form, are currently in the final stages of drafting and are expected to be issued as part of the planned communications programme.
The CAA continues to liaise with the BMAA regarding their proposed guidance.
These actions are intended to strengthen the management and oversight of life-limited components and provide aircraft owners and inspectors with improved processes for recording occasions where components exceed manufacturers' recommended lives, together with the engineering assessment and justification supporting continued use.
The CAA will continue to monitor progress with both organisations and will provide a further update on actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of November 2026.
Partially Adequate Open
November 2026
AAIB Recommendation transmittal
Date
13/06/2024
Status
Open
CAA Initial Update
Date
13/09/2024
The CAA acknowledges that it may be acceptable to exceed manufacturer life limits for certain components if a thorough assessment is conducted and a valid justification is documented in the continuing airworthiness record system. The CAA considers that such an approach will help ensure that life-limited components remain airworthy and may be similarly effective to a mandate.
Before considering issuing a mandate, the CAA believes it is appropriate to first liaise with the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) and the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) with respect to their processes for conducting airworthiness reviews to ensure life limited components are identified and recorded, with any exceedances suitably justified.
The CAA will provide an update on the actions taken to address this safety recommendation by the end of March 2025.
Status
Open
AAIB Classification
Date
29/10/2024
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
29/08/2025
Further to our previous responses, CAA have been liaising with the BMAA and LAA and we asked them to review their current policies and procedures in relation to life limited components. As part of this review process, all parties have now undertaken a review of the existing process on how Part 21 aircraft are managed with respect to life limited components and running ‘On Condition’ so that any determination for BMAA/LAA permit to fly aircraft are appropriately proportionate. A trilateral meeting will be held between CAA/BMAA/LAA in Autumn 2025 to agree the proposed policy position before further consultation with the A8-1 and A8-21 microlight manufacturers to ensure alignment.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an assessment has been conducted and a suitable justification is documented in the continuing airworthiness record system. The current approach being considered by the LAA is to introduce methods that allow owners to actively record instances where parts have surpassed the manufacturer’s recommended life, along with the justification for doing so. This could involve modifying generic maintenance schedules to include prompts for these records or creating a separate form to be inserted into the logbook. We recognise that the BMAA already offers comprehensive guidance on this topic in BMAA TIL044. However, further development of this technical information leaflet may be warranted following additional discussions with the CAA.
The CAA will provide a further update on the actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by 28th February 2026.
AAIB Classification
Date
25/09/2025
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
26/02/2025
Further to our previous responses, the CAA have continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA with detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures in relation to life limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an assessment has been conducted and a suitable justification is documented in the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting was held between the CAA/BMAA/LAA in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then both the BMAA/LAA have been working to update several Technical Leaflets (LAA) and Technical Information Leaflets (BMAA) to provide further suitably detailed guidance on life limited parts for their respective fleets. In addition, there are currently planned improvements in progress to generic maintenance schedules and where generic schedules are not used, forms proposed to supplement and track time expiring components, all to strengthen policy and controls in this area.
Following a meeting during February 2026 between the BMAA and LAA, which ensured continued alignment, the draft technical leaflets/technical information leaflets have now been provided for the CAA’s review. The continued development of documentation will continue with both organisations planning to brief their inspectorate during Spring 2026, so they are fully conversant with the policies and documentation, before eventual phased release to aircraft owners via planned targeted communications. In addition, further discussions with the A8-1 and A8-21 microlight manufacturers will be considered.
All of this aims to ensure that components can be managed satisfactorily to allow owners to actively record instances where parts have surpassed the manufacturer’s recommended life, along with the clear justification for doing so, in a more controlled manner.
The CAA will provide a further update on the actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of July 2026.
AAIB Classification
Date
26/03/2026
Status
Partially Adequate - Open
CAA Update
Date
30/07/2026
Further to our previous updates, the CAA has continued liaison with the BMAA and LAA, whilst they undertake detailed reviews undertaken of their current policies and procedures relating to life-limited components.
The CAA maintains that exceeding manufacturer life limits for certain components may be acceptable, provided an appropriate assessment has been carried out and a suitable justification is documented within the continuing airworthiness record system.
A trilateral meeting between the CAA, BMAA and LAA was held in September 2025 to agree the proposed policy direction. Since then, both organisations have been working to develop and enhance guidance material and supporting processes relating to the management of life-limited components within their respective fleets.
Following further engagement between the BMAA and LAA in February 2026 to ensure a consistent and aligned approach, draft guidance material was submitted to the CAA for review.
The CAA has since been advised by the LAA that publication of this guidance has been delayed slightly from the originally anticipated timescale due to unforeseen circumstances and competing operational priorities. However, the LAA has informed us that it intends to publish an article on the management of life-limited items in the September 2026 edition of Light Aviation. In parallel, procedural updates will be communicated to inspectors to support consistent application of the revised policy.
The associated technical leaflet on life-limited items, together with updates to the generic maintenance schedule and a new time expiring components tracking supplement form, are currently in the final stages of drafting and are expected to be issued as part of the planned communications programme.
The CAA continues to liaise with the BMAA regarding their proposed guidance.
These actions are intended to strengthen the management and oversight of life-limited components and provide aircraft owners and inspectors with improved processes for recording occasions where components exceed manufacturers' recommended lives, together with the engineering assessment and justification supporting continued use.
The CAA will continue to monitor progress with both organisations and will provide a further update on actions taken to address these Safety Recommendations by the end of November 2026.