Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH. Model G102 Astir CS Sailplanes

Proposed Rules

Federal Register

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Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-95-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt,

GmbH. Model G102 Astir CS 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 the Burkhart Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH.

(Grob) Model G102 Astir CS sailplanes. The proposed action would

require replacing the elevator control lever. This proposed action is

prompted by the discovery of cracks in the elevator control lever

during a routine inspection of a Grob Model G102 Astir CS sailplane.

The action specified by the proposed AD is intended to prevent failure

of the elevator control lever, which could result in loss of control of

the sailplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-95-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, Postfach 1257, D-87712, Mindelheim,

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, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,

FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone

ed AD may be obtained

from Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH, Postfach 1257, D-87712, Mindelheim,

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, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,

FAA, 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. 95-CE-95-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-95-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

pliance time for all operators is more equitable

and would not present any undue burden on any of the owner/operators of

any U.S. registered sailplanes. Therefore, the compliance time stated

in the body of the proposed AD would take precedence over the

compliance time recommended by the manufacturer and the foreign

airworthiness authority for Germany.

Explanation of the Provisions of This AD

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, and determined that AD action

is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for

operation in the United States. The FAA has also determined that it is

more beneficial and less cumbersome to the owners/operators to require

a replacement of the elevator control lever within the next 20 hours

time-in-service, instead of requiring an initial inspection for cracks

and if cracks are found, replacing the part prior to further flight,

and then if no cracks are found, replacing the part prior to a certain

date, as required by the

LBA and the manufacturer. The one time replacement is more time and

labor efficient.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other Grob G102 Astir CS sailplanes of the same

type design, the proposed AD would require replacing the elevator

control lever, part number (P/N) 102-3542 with an improved elevator

control lever, P/N 102-3543.

Related Service Information

Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with

Grob SB TM 306-33, dated September 15, 1994 and Grob Installation

Instructions No. 306-30/1, dated October 11, 1994.

Cost Impact

same

type design, the proposed AD would require replacing the elevator

control lever, part number (P/N) 102-3542 with an improved elevator

control lever, P/N 102-3543.

Related Service Information

Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with

Grob SB TM 306-33, dated September 15, 1994 and Grob Installation

Instructions No. 306-30/1, dated October 11, 1994.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 53 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be

affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12 hours

per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average

labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $180

per sailplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $47,700.

Grob has informed the FAA that no parts have been distributed to

equip any sailplane in the United States. The FAA has no way of

determining how many owners/operators may have incorporated the

proposed actions on their sailplane.

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, 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;

er 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 AD to read as follows:

Burkhart Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt, GMBH: Docket No. 95-CE-95-AD.

Applicability: Model G102 Astir CS sailplanes (serial numbers

1001 through 1536), certificated in any category.

ESS 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 AD to read as follows:

Burkhart Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt, GMBH: Docket No. 95-CE-95-AD.

Applicability: Model G102 Astir CS sailplanes (serial numbers

1001 through 1536), 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 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 aircraft from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within the next 20 hours time-in-service

after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the elevator control lever, which could

result in loss of control of the sailplane, accomplish the

following:

is AD. In no

case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair

remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within the next 20 hours time-in-service

after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the elevator control lever, which could

result in loss of control of the sailplane, accomplish the

following:

(a) Replace the elevator control lever, Grob part number (P/N)

102-3542, with an elevator control lever of improved design (Grob P/

N 102-3543) in accordance with the ``Procedure'' section of the Grob

Installation Instructions No. 306-30/1, dated October 11, 1994,

which are referenced in the ``Actions: 2'' section of Grob service

bulletin (SB) TM 306-33, dated September 15, 1994.

Note 2: The instructions in this AD do not reflect the

instructions given in the Grob service bulletin or the LBA AD

discussed in the preamble of this AD; therefore, the instructions in

the body of this AD take precedence over the Grob service bulletin

and the LBA AD.

(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 sailplane 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, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri,

64106.

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.

106. 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, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri,

64106.

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) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of

the document referred to herein upon request Grob Luft-und

Raumfahrt, GmbH, Postfach 1257, D-87712, Mindelheim, 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 2, 1996.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 96-31265 Filed 12-9-96; 8:45 am]

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