[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
