[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47899-47900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22922]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-CE-02-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Glasflugel, Model Mosquito 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 Glasflugel, model Mosquito sailplanes. The 
proposed action would require modifying the mounting studs on the 
lifting/tilting frame of the canopy system, repetitively inspecting the 
mounting stud, and incorporating flight manual revisions that specify a 
warning on emergency canopy deployment failure. Canopy system problems 
discovered during routine checks and periodic inspections of these 
sailplanes prompted the proposed action. The actions specified in this 
proposed AD are intended to prevent canopy system failure, which could 
result in loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 17, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-CE-02-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 Glasflugel, c/o Hansjorg Streifeneder, Glasfer-Flugzeug Service, 
Hofener Weg, D 72582 Grabenstetten, Germany, telephone number 
49.73.82.10.32. This information also may be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman C. 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:

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. 93-CE-02-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. 93-CE-02-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 Glasflugel mode Mosquito sailplanes. The LBA reports: 
(1) considerable wear to the mounting studs on the canopy lifting/
tilting frame caused by the guide bracket on either side of the 
fuselage; and (2) possible emergency deployment failure of the canopy 
caused by the ``Pip'' pin not being engaged.
    Glasflugel has issued the following Technical Note (TN) 303-18, 
dated March 1, 1991, which specifies repetitively inspecting the 
mounting studs on the canopy lifting/tilting frame for wear caused by 
the guide bracket on either side of the fuselage and modifying the 
mounting studs if they are less than a specified diameter.
    Glasflugel also issued Technical Note 303-9, dated June 22, 1979, 
which specifies incorporating a flight manual revision to include a 
warning regarding the emergency canopy deployment system.
    In order to assure the continued airworthiness of these sailplanes 
in Germany, the LBA classified the above-referenced technical notes as 
mandatory, and also issued LBA AD 91-111. The LBA classifying a 
technical note as mandatory is the same for sailplanes registered in 
Germany as the FAA issuing an AD for sailplanes registered in the 
United States.
    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 between Germany and 
the United States. 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 Glasflugel Mosquito sailplanes of the same 
type design, the proposed AD would require the following:
     Within the next 30 calendar days, after the effective date 
of this AD, inspect the mounting studs on the canopy lifting/tilting 
frame for wear, repetitively inspecting the mounting 

[[Page 47900]]
stud every 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) thereafter,
     Measure the diameter of the mounting stud and if it is 
less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) increase the diameter to 6 mm (0.24 inch) in 
accordance with the procedure described in Glasflugel Technical Note 
(TN) 303-18, dated March 1, 1991,
     Incorporate a change to the Mosquito flight manual on page 
19, paragraph 3.3 by inserting the following language in accordance 
with Glasflugal TN 303-9, dated June 22, 1979:

    Whenever the canopy emergency jettison knob is pulled and prior 
to each flight, if no locking thread is used, it should be ensured 
that the Pip pines are fully pushed home, so that the locking balls 
are clear of and behind their fittings.

    Initially, 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 sailplanes ranges throughout the fleet. For example, 
one owner may operate the sailplane 25 hours in one week, while another 
operator may operate the sailplane 25 hours in one year. For this 
reason, the FAA has determined that, in order to ensure that all of the 
owners/operators of the affected sailplanes initially inspect the 
canopy system and incorporate the flight manual revisions within a 
reasonable amount of time, a calendar compliance time is proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 40 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 
workhours per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $10 per sailplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $5,200. 
This figure is based on the assumption that no affected owner/operator 
of the affected sailplanes has incorporated the proposed modification 
or accomplished the proposed inspection.
    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. 106(g); 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Glasflugel: Docket No. 93-CE-02-AD.

    Applicability; Model Mosquito Sailplanes (all serial numbers).

    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 (e) 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 sailplane from the applicability of this AD.
    Compliance: Required initially within the next 30 calendar days 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, 
and repetitively inspect thereafter as indicated in the body of this 
AD.
    To prevent canopy frame failure and emergency canopy deployment 
failure, which could result in loss of control of the sailplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the mounting studs on the canopy lifting/tilting 
frame for evidence of wear and diameter specifications in accordance 
with the recommendation in Glasflugel TN 303-18, dated March 1, 
1991.
    (1) If the mounting stud is worn or the diameter measures less 
than 5 mm (0.2 inch), prior to further flight, increase the diameter 
to 6 mm (0.24 inch) in accordance with the procedure described in 
Glasflugel Technical Note (TN) 303-18, dated March 1, 1991.
    (2) Repeat the inspection specified in paragraph (a) of this AD 
and increase the diameter as necessary at intervals not to exceed 
100 hours time-in-service (TIS).
    (b) Incorporate the following language on page 19, paragraph 3.3 
of the Mosquito flight manual in accordance with Glasflugel TN 303-
9, dated June 22, 1979:

    Whenever the canopy emergency jettison knob is pulled and prior 
to each flight, if no locking thread is used, it should be ensured 
that the Pip pins are fully pushed home, so that the locking balls 
are clear of and behind their fittings.

    (c) Incorporating the flight manual revision as required by 
paragraph (b) of this AD may be performed by the owner/operator 
holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by 
section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and 
must be entered into the sailplane's records showing compliance with 
this AD in accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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. 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (f) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to Glasflugel, c/o 
Hansjorg Streifeneder, Glasfaser-Flugzeug Service, Hofener Weg, D 
72582 Grabenstetten, 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 September 7, 1995.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-22922 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M