96-32438. Airworthiness Directives; Burkhardt Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH Model G 103 Twin Astir Sailplanes  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 67506-67508]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-32438]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    14 CFR Part 39
    
    [Docket No. 95-CE-96-AD]
    RIN 2120-AA64
    
    
    Airworthiness Directives; Burkhardt Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH 
    Model G 103 Twin Astir 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 certain Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt (Grob) Model G 
    103 Twin Astir sailplanes. The proposed action would require replacing 
    the airbrake over-center lever and installing new inspection holes. 
    Cracked airbrake over-center levers found during routine inspections 
    prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
    are intended to prevent an asymmetrical airbrake deployment causing an 
    uncontrollable roll and possible loss of control of the sailplane.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 21, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the proposal in triplicate to the Federal
    
    [[Page 67507]]
    
    Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
    Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-96-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 Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH., D-8939, Mattsies-am Flugplatz, 
    Germany. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at 
    the address above.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer, 
    Sailplanes, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, 
    Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 
    426-2165.
    
    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. 95-CE-96-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. 95-CE-96-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 certain Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes. The LBA reports that 
    cracks have been discovered in the airbrake over-center lever on three 
    Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes during the routine 3,000 hours time-
    in-service (TIS) inspections. This condition, if not detected and 
    corrected, could result in an unexpected asymmetrical airbrake 
    deployment resulting in an uncontrollable roll of the sailplane.
        Grob has issued Service Bulletin TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 
    1993 and Grob Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991, 
    which specifies procedures for replacing the airbrake over-center lever 
    and installing new inspection holes.
        The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD 
    92-309/2 Grob, dated February 26, 1993, in order to assure the 
    continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.
    
    FAA's Determination
    
        This sailplane 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 including the service 
    information referenced above, and determined that AD action is 
    necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
    operation in the United States.
    
    Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
    
        Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
    exist or develop in other Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes of the same 
    type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would 
    require replacing the airbrake over-center lever (Grob part number (P/
    N) 103-4123 (left) and P/N 103-4124 (right)) with a new part of 
    improved design (Grob P/N 103B-4123 (left) and 103B-4124 (right)) and 
    installing new inspection holes.
    
    Related Service Information
    
        Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 
    Grob Service Bulletin TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 1993, and Grob 
    Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991.
    
    Cost Impact
    
        The FAA estimates that 60 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
    affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12 
    workhours per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
    average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
    approximately $650 per sailplane. Based on these figures, the total 
    cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
    $82,200 or $1,370 per sailplane. The FAA has no way of determining how 
    many owners/operators have accomplished the proposed action and 
    therefore assumes that none of the owners/operators of the affected 
    sailplanes have accomplished the proposed action.
    
    Regulatory Impact
    
        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
    
    [[Page 67508]]
    
    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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
    
    
    Sec. 39.13  [Amended]
    
        2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
    (AD) to read as follows:
    
        Burkhardt Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH. (Grob): Docket No. 95-
    CE-96-AD.
    
        Applicability: Model G 103 Twin Astir Sailplane (serial numbers 
    3000 through 3291, with or without the suffix ``T''), certificated 
    in any category.
    
        Note 1: This AD applies to each sailplane identified in the 
    preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
    modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
    requirements of this AD. For sailplanes that have been modified, 
    altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
    this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
    alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
    this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
    the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
    addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
    eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
    address it.
    
        Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service 
    (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
    accomplished.
        To prevent an asymmetrical airbrake deployment causing an 
    uncontrollable roll and possible loss of control of the sailplane, 
    accomplish the following:
        (a) Replace the airbrake over-center lever (Grob part number (P/
    N) 103-4123, left, and 103-4124, right) with a new part of improved 
    design (Grob P/N 103B-4123, left, and 103B-4124, right) in 
    accordance with the Procedures section of Grob Service Bulletin (SB) 
    TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 1993, and Grob Repair Instructions 
    No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991.
        (b) Install inspection holes in accordance with the Procedure 
    section of Grob Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 
    1991.
        (c) 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 sailplane to a location where 
    the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
        (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
    compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
    approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
    alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
    obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
    
        (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
    these documents referred to herein upon request to Grob Luft-und 
    Raumfahrt, GmbH., D-8939, Mattsies-am Flugplatz, Germany or may 
    examine these documents 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 13, 1996.
    Michael Gallagher,
    Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-32438 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/23/1996
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Document Number:
96-32438
Dates:
Comments must be received on or before February 21, 1997.
Pages:
67506-67508 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 95-CE-96-AD
RINs:
2120-AA64: Airworthiness Directives
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2120-AA64/airworthiness-directives
PDF File:
96-32438.pdf
CFR: (1)
14 CFR 39.13