[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31375-31377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15197]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
400 Gliders
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 Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (Glaser-
Dirks) Model DG-400 gliders. The proposed action would require
inspecting the powerplant mount and the propeller mount for any loose
parts. If parts are loose, the proposed AD would require immediately
modifying the starter motor, retrofitting the holder for the starter
motor, and checking the engine ignition timing. If parts are not found
loose, the proposed AD would require modifying the starter motor,
retrofitting the holder for the starter motor, and checking the engine
ignition timing at a later time. The proposed AD is the result of
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for Germany. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent damage to the engine caused by
vibration, which could result in loss of engine power during critical
phases of flight.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region,
[[Page 31376]]
Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-12-
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 DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Im Schollengarten 19-20, 7520 Bruchsal 4,
Germany; telephone: +49 7257-89-0; facsimile: +49 7257-8922. This
information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; 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. 98-CE-12-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 Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 98-CE-12-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 Glaser-Dirks Model DG-400 gliders. The LBA reports
that several of these gliders have lost engine power during flight.
Further investigation revealed that the powerplant propeller mount was
not secure on some engines. This problem related back to the engine
manufacturer not drilling the rear mount holes deep enough on the
propeller mount to hold it securely during engine vibration.
These conditions, if not corrected, could result in the propeller
mount and powerplant mount coming loose during critical phases of
flight.
Relevant Service Information
DG Flugzeugbau has issued Technical Note Nr. 826/22 dated January
10, 1990, which specifies procedures for inspecting for loose parts on
the powerplant and propeller mount and inserting revised pages into the
maintenance manual. If any part is found loose, the service information
specifies procedures for modifying the starter motor, retrofitting the
holder of the starter motor, and checking the engine timing.
The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
German AD 90-43, dated February 26, 1990, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these gliders in Germany.
The FAA's Determination
This glider model is manufactured in Germany and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 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 Glaser-Dirks Model DG-400 gliders of the same
type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD
action.
The proposed AD would require inspecting the powerplant mount and
the propeller mount for loose parts. If any parts are loose, the
proposed AD would require modifying the starter motor, retrofitting the
holder for the starter motor, checking the engine ignition timing, and
adjusting the timing if necessary.
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with
DG Flugzeugbau Technical Note Nr. 826/22, dated January 10, 1990.
Differences Between the Service Information and the Proposed AD
The manufacturer's service information specifies procedures for
inspecting the powerplant mount for a secure, tight condition prior to
every flight. This service information also specifies inserting revised
pages to the maintenance manual.
The proposed AD would not require an inspection prior to each
flight, and would not require inserting revised pages to the
maintenance manual. The FAA will insert a ``NOTE'' into the body of the
proposed AD, recommending inserting the revised pages into the
maintenance manual.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 35 gliders in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $150 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $13,650,
or $390 per glider.
Proposed Compliance Time
The compliance time of the proposed AD is in calendar time instead
of hours time-in-service (TIS). The average monthly usage of the
affected glider ranges throughout the fleet. For example, one owner may
operate the glider 25 hours TIS in one week, while another operator may
operate the glider 25 hours TIS in one year. In order to ensure that
all of the owners/operators of the affected glider have inspected the
powerplant and propeller mounts for loose parts within a reasonable
amount of time, the FAA is proposing a calendar compliance time.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship
[[Page 31377]]
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. 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:
Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GMBH: Docket No. 98-CE-12-AD.
Applicability: Model DG-400 gliders, serial numbers 4-1 through 4-
249, 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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) 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 1 calendar month after the effective
date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent damage to the engine caused by vibration, which could
result in loss of engine power during critical phases of flight,
accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the powerplant (engine) mount and propeller mount
for any loose parts in accordance with paragraph 1 in the
Instructions section of Glaser-Dirks Technical Note (TN) Nr. 826/22,
dated January 10, 1990.
(1) If any part of the powerplant mount or propeller mount is
found loose, prior to further flight, accomplish paragraphs 2
through 4 in the Instructions section of Glaser-Dirks TN Nr. 826/22,
dated January 10, 1990. The engine ignition timing procedures shall
be accomplished in accordance with the appropriate Bombardier ROTAX
maintenance manual for ROTAX engine type 505, which is referenced in
Working Instruction No. 3, Instruction 4 of the Glaser-Dirks TN Nr.
826/22.
(2) If no part of the powerplant mount or propeller mount is
loose upon the inspection required in paragraph (a) of this AD,
accomplish paragraphs 2 through 4 in the Instructions section of
Glaser-Dirks TN Nr. 826/22, dated January 10, 1990, within the next
3 calendar months after the date of the initial inspection.
Note 2: It is recommended that the manual pages referenced in
the Instructions section of Glaser-Dirks TN Nr. 826/22 be inserted
into the maintenance manual.
(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 glider 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 shall 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) Questions or technical information related to DG Flugzeugbau
Technical Note No. 826/22, dated January 10, 1990, should be
directed to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, P.O. Box 4120, 76625 Bruchsal,
Germany; telephone: +49 7257-89-0; facsimile: +49 7257-8922. This
service information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region,
Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD 90-43
Glaser-Dirks, dated February 26, 1990.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1, 1998.
Ronald K. Rathgeber,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-15197 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
