Zenith CH 601 XL

The Zenith CH 601 XL is a two-seat, all-metal kit aircraft in the Zodiac family designed by Chris Heintz. It was first flown in 1991 as an improved version of the CH 601 HD, developed for the amateur-built market and for the American Light Sport Aircraft category. Compared with the HD it has a new wing design, wing fuel tanks in place of the fuselage tanks, new landing gear and a new canopy. A completed light sport version was sold in the United States as the AMD Zodiac XL and XLi. The type became the subject of a safety investigation after in-flight wing failures between 2006 and 2009: the NTSB urged that the aircraft be grounded, the FAA declined but strongly recommended against flying until modifications were made, and the manufacturer issued an upgrade package that strengthened the wing spar carrythroughs and added aileron balance weights.