[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31184]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC
Sailplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC
sailplanes. The proposed action would require modifying the airbrake
actuating lever and replacing the airbrake system coupling balls.
Reports of the coupling balls on the airbrake actuating lever breaking
at the threaded end on several of the above-referenced sailplanes
prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD
are intended to prevent airbrake system failure caused by the above
condition, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in
sailplane controllability problems.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 28, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from Schempp-Hirth Flugzeubau GmbH, Krebenstr. 25, D-7312 Kirchheim/
Teck, Germany. This information may also be examined at the Rules
Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman C. Belderok, Project
Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service,
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone
(816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may
exist on Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC sailplanes. The LBA
advises that the coupling balls on the airbrake actuating lever located
inside the fuselage have broken at the threaded end on several of the
above referenced sailplanes. This condition, if not detected and
corrected, could result in sailplane controllability problems.
Schempp-Hirth has issued Technical Note 265-10, dated November 5,
1992, which specifies procedures for modifying the airbrake actuating
lever and replacing the airbrake system coupling balls. The LBA
classified this technical note as urgent in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Germany.
This airplane model is manufactured in Germany and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
LBA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC
sailplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require
modifying the airbrake actuating lever and replacing the airbrake
system coupling balls. The proposed actions would be accomplished in
accordance with the service information referenced above.
The FAA estimates that 21 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $25 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,785.
This figure is based on the assumption that no affected sailplane
owner/operator has accomplished the proposed modification and
replacement. The FAA believes that several of the 21 affected sailplane
owners/operators have already accomplished the proposed action, which
would reduce the FAA's proposed cost impact upon the public.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Schempp-Hirth: Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD.
Applicability: Cirrus and Cirrus VTC Sailplanes, certificated in
any category.
Compliance: Required upon the accumulation of 500 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or within the next 20 hours TIS after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent airbrake system failure caused by broken coupling
balls on the airbrake actuating lever, which, if not detected and
corrected, could result in sailplane controllability problems,
accomplish the following:
(a) Modify the airbrake actuating lever and replace the airbrake
system coupling balls (located on the actuating lever) in accordance
with Schempp-Hirth Technical Note No. 265-10, dated November 5,
1992.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite
900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be forwarded
through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add
comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to Schempp-Hirth
Flugzeubau GmbH, Krebenstr. 25, D-7312 Kirchheim/Teck, Germany; or
may examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 14, 1994.
Barry D. Clements,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31184 Filed 12-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
