[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20016-20017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9342]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-30-AD; Amendment 39-9202; AD 95-08-13]
Airworthiness Directives; B. Grob Flugzeugbau Model G109B Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to B. Grob Flugzeugbau (Grob) Model G109B gliders. This action
requires replacing the elevator inner hinges with hinges of improved
design. Two occurrences where the elevator inner hinges separated from
the elevator prompted the required action. The actions specified by
this AD are intended to prevent failure of these hinges because of
delamination or corrosion, which, if not detected and corrected, could
lead to loss of control of the glider.
DATES: Effective June 2, 1995.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of June 2, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from B. Grob Flugzeugbau, D-8939 Mattsies, Germany. This information
may also be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman Belderok, Project Officer,
Gliders, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone
(816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply
to Grob Model G109B gliders was published in the Federal Register on
January 10, 1995 (59 FR 2555). The action proposed to require replacing
the elevator inner hinges with hinges of improved design.
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with Grob
Repair Instructions No. 817-25 for Service Bulletin TM 817-25, dated
November 9, 1987.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
After careful review of all available information related to the
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD or add any additional
burden upon the public than was already proposed.
The unsafe condition referenced in this AD is caused by both stress
loads and corrosion. Stress loads are a direct result of glider usage.
Corrosion can then develop regardless of whether the glider is utilized
in flight or is on the ground. With this in mind, the FAA has
determined that the compliance time of this AD should be in both
calendar time and hours time-in-service (TIS).
The FAA estimates that 30 gliders in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this proposed AD, that it will take approximately 8
workhours per glider to accomplish the required action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be provided
by the manufacturer at no cost to the operator. Based on these figures,
the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$14,400. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected glider
owner/operator has accomplished the proposed replacement of the
elevator inner hinges.
Grob has informed the FAA that approximately 20 of the affected
gliders already have the required replacement incorporated. With this
in mind, the cost impact upon the public of the required action would
be reduced from $14,400 to $5,280.
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does 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 [[Page 20017]] 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for
this action is contained 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:
95-08-13 B. Grob Flugzeugbau: Amendment 39-9202; Docket No. 94-CE-
30-AD.
Applicability: Model G109B gliders, serial numbers 6200 through
6445, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each glider 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 gliders that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any glider from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 25 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD or within the next 6 calendar
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first,
unless already accomplished.
To prevent failure of the elevator inner hinges because of
delamination or corrosion, which, if not detected and corrected,
could lead to loss of control of the glider, accomplish the
following:
(a) Replace the elevator inner hinges (2) with hinges of
improved design, part number 109B-3550, in accordance with Grob
Repair Instructions No. 817-25 for Service Bulletin TM 817-25, dated
November 9, 1987.
Note 2: The service instructions of this AD call for ``the
execution of the instructions to be certified in the log-book by an
authorized inspector class 3.'' This type of inspector is not
applicable in the United States and the person accomplishing the AD
is as outlined in part 43 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 43). This is not a change over normal AD procedures.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate gliders to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) 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, FAA, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request should
be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who
may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) The replacement required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Grob Repair Instructions No. 817-25 for Service
Bulletin TM 817-25, dated November 9, 1987. This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be
obtained from B. Grob Flugzeugbau, D-8939 Mattsies, Germany. Copies
may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri,
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street,
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment (39-9202) becomes effective on June 2, 1995.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 11, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-9342 Filed 4-21-95; 8:45 am]
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