[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31184]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC 
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 Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC 
sailplanes. The proposed action would require modifying the airbrake 
actuating lever and replacing the airbrake system coupling balls. 
Reports of the coupling balls on the airbrake actuating lever breaking 
at the threaded end on several of the above-referenced sailplanes 
prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent airbrake system failure caused by the above 
condition, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
sailplane controllability problems.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 28, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-17-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 Schempp-Hirth Flugzeubau GmbH, Krebenstr. 25, D-7312 Kirchheim/
Teck, Germany. This information may also be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman C. Belderok, Project 
Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service, 
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone 
(816) 426-6932; 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. 94-CE-17-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. 94-CE-17-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 Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC sailplanes. The LBA 
advises that the coupling balls on the airbrake actuating lever located 
inside the fuselage have broken at the threaded end on several of the 
above referenced sailplanes. This condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could result in sailplane controllability problems.
    Schempp-Hirth has issued Technical Note 265-10, dated November 5, 
1992, which specifies procedures for modifying the airbrake actuating 
lever and replacing the airbrake system coupling balls. The LBA 
classified this technical note as urgent in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Germany.
    This airplane 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.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Schempp-Hirth Cirrus and Cirrus VTC 
sailplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require 
modifying the airbrake actuating lever and replacing the airbrake 
system coupling balls. The proposed actions would be accomplished in 
accordance with the service information referenced above.
    The FAA estimates that 21 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 
workhour per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $25 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,785. 
This figure is based on the assumption that no affected sailplane 
owner/operator has accomplished the proposed modification and 
replacement. The FAA believes that several of the 21 affected sailplane 
owners/operators have already accomplished the proposed action, which 
would reduce the FAA's proposed cost impact upon the public.
    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 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:

Schempp-Hirth: Docket No. 94-CE-17-AD.

    Applicability: Cirrus and Cirrus VTC Sailplanes, certificated in 
any category.
    Compliance: Required upon the accumulation of 500 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or within the next 20 hours TIS after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent airbrake system failure caused by broken coupling 
balls on the airbrake actuating lever, which, if not detected and 
corrected, could result in sailplane controllability problems, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the airbrake actuating lever and replace the airbrake 
system coupling balls (located on the actuating lever) in accordance 
with Schempp-Hirth Technical Note No. 265-10, dated November 5, 
1992.
    (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 airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 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: 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 to Schempp-Hirth 
Flugzeubau GmbH, Krebenstr. 25, D-7312 Kirchheim/Teck, 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 14, 1994.
Barry D. Clements,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31184 Filed 12-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U