[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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