[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3587-3588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1129]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92-CE-21-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
100 Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Reopening of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise an earlier proposed 
airworthiness directive (AD), which would have required inspecting 
(one-time) the tailplane main fitting on Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH 
(Glaser-Dirks) Model DG-100 sailplanes to ensure the part is accurately 
welded, and modifying if not accurately welded. A report of tailplane 
main fitting failure on one of the affected sailplanes, where the 
welding did not completely cover the entire wall thickness of the 
fitting, prompted the proposed action. The previous notice was written 
against all DG-100's; however, if the sailplane is equipped with a 
horizontal stabilizer and an elevator instead of a L4 tailplane main 
fitting (main L4 fitting of the all flying tailplane), the proposed AD 
should not apply. The proposed action would require the same one-time 
inspection of the tailplane main fitting, but would exclude those 
sailplanes equipped with a horizontal stabilizer and an elevator. The 
proposed actions are intended to prevent loss of control of the 
sailplane because of tailplane main fitting failure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 92-
CE-21-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 Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH, Im Schollengarten 19-20, 7520 
Buchsal 4, Germany. This information also may be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman Belderok, Project Officer, 
Sailplanes, 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. 92-CE-21-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. 92-CE-21-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Glaser-Dirks 
Model DG-100 sailplanes was published in the Federal Register on April 
22, 1993 (58 FR 21547). That action proposed to require inspecting 
(one-time) the tailplane main fitting to ensure the part is accurately 
welded, and modifying if not accurately welded. The inspections and 
possible modifications were proposed to be accomplished in accordance 
with Enclosure to Technical Note 301/15, which is a supplement to 
Glaser-Dirks Technical Note 301/15, dated July 7, 1989.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. One comment was received on the 
content of the proposed AD and no comments were received concerning the 
FAA's determination of the cost upon the public.
    The commenter states that the proposed AD would apply to all Model 
DG-100 sailplanes. In actuality, the proposal should not apply to those 
[[Page 3588]] sailplanes equipped with a horizontal stabilizer and 
elevator, and should only be written against sailplanes equipped with 
the ``main L4 fitting of the all flying tailplane'' as specified in 
Glaser-Dirks Technical Note 301/15.
    The FAA concurs and has changed the Applicability section of the 
proposal to include the following: ``Model DG-100 sailplanes equipped 
with the main L4 fitting of the all flying tailplane.''
    Since sufficient time has elapsed between the time the proposal was 
issued and coordination of the comment proposed above with the FAA, the 
manufacturer, and foreign airworthiness authority, the FAA has decided 
to reopen the comment period to provide additional time for public 
comment.
    The FAA estimates that 16 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 inspection, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $960. This figure is based on the assumption that no 
affected owner/operator has accomplished the proposed one-time 
inspection. The FAA anticipates that several owners/operators have 
already accomplished this inspection, thus reducing the 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:

    Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GMBH: Docket No. 92-CE-21-AD.

    Applicability: Model DG-100 sailplanes (all serial numbers) that 
are equipped with the main L4 fitting of the all flying tailplane, 
certificated in any category.

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent loss of control of the sailplane caused by failure of 
the tailplane main fitting, accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the tailplane main fitting to ensure that the 
welding covers the entire wall thickness of the fitting in 
accordance with the instructions in paragraph 3 of the Enclosure to 
Technical Note (TN) 301/15, which is a supplement to Glaser-Dirks TN 
301/15, dated July 7, 1989.
    (b) If the welding does not cover the entire wall thickness of 
the fitting, prior to further flight, modify the tailplane main 
fitting in accordance with instructions in paragraph 4 of the 
Enclosure to TN 301/15, which is a supplement to Glaser-Dirks TN 
301/15, dated July 7, 1989.

    Note 1: The service information specifies inspection and 
possible modification for the Model DG-100 Elan sailplanes, as well 
as the Model DG-100 sailplanes. Even though the Model DG-100 Elan 
sailplanes are not certificated for operation in the United States 
under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 21.29), the actions in this AD are recommended 
for any of these sailplanes certificated otherwise, i.e., 
experimental category.

    (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 sailplanes to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times 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 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 
the documents referred to herein upon request to Glaser-Dirks 
Flugzeugbau GmbH, lm Schollengarten 19-20, 7520 Buchsal 4, 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 January 10, 1995.
Barry D. Clements,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-1129 Filed 1-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U