E7-23016. Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG Models G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III Gliders

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result in rupture at a matured stage.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective January 3, 2008.

On January 3, 2008 the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Greg Davison, Glider Program Manager, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 19, 2007 (72 FR 53493). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result in rupture at a matured stage.

The MCAI requires all welded parts to be inspected and replaced if any cracks are found.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

For the Model G102 STANDARD ASTIR III, we have reduced the beginning serial number range by 1 glider from 5501 to 5502 to mirror the range of affected airplanes described in the MCAI.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for the reduction in serial number applicability as described above.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have required different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 35 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $2,800 or $80 per product.

In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would take about 5 work-hours and require parts costing $5,058, for a cost of $5,458 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products that may need these actions.

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. “Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs” describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in “Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

(2) Is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and

(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-24-11 GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG: Amendment 39-15277; Docket No. FAA-2007-28670; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-060-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 3, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to the gliders Model G102 CLUB ASTIR III, serial numbers (SNs) 5501 (suffix C) through 5652 (suffix C); Model G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, SNs 5501 (suffix Cb) through 5652 (suffix Cb); and Model G102 STANDARD ASTIR III, SNs 5502 (suffix S) through 5652 (suffix S), that are certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:

GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result in rupture at a matured stage.

The MCAI requires all welded parts to be inspected and replaced if any cracks are found.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:

(1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after January 3, 2008 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 6 calendar months after January 3, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, inspect the welded parts of the flight control system for any cracks, deformations, or distortions following Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007. Thereafter, repetitively inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar months.

(2) If you find any cracks, deformations, or distortions as a result of any inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace the affected part following Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007.

FAA AD Differences

Note:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Greg Davison, Glider Program Manager, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No.: 2007-0135-E, dated May 14, 2007, and Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Grob Aerospace GmbH, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Federal Republic of Germany.

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20, 2007.

Kim Smith,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.