[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53683-53685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26253]
[[Page 53683]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-38-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Glasflugel Models H301 ``Libelle,''
H301B ``Libelle,'' Standard ``Libelle,'' Standard Libelle 201B, Club
Libelle 205, and Kestrel 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 Models H301 ``Libelle,'' H301B
``Libelle,'' Standard ``Libelle,'' Standard Libelle 201B, Club Libelle
205, and Kestrel sailplanes. The proposed action would require
measuring and adjusting the control surface weight and static moment,
and inserting amendments into the maintenance manual. The proposed
action results from considerable variation of the weight and static
moment of the control surface on the affected sailplanes found during
repair or repainting of the control surface. The actions specified by
the proposed AD are intended to prevent sailplane flutter because the
weight and static moment of the control surface are not within certain
limits, which could result in flutter and subsequent loss of control of
the sailplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 13, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-38-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 Hr. H. Streifeneder, Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service
GmbH, Hofener Weg, D-72582 Grabenstetten, Germany. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address below. Send
comments on the proposal in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-38-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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 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. 96-CE-38-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. 96-CE-38-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 Glasflugel Models H301 ``Libelle'', H301B ``Libelle'',
Standard ``Libelle'', Standard Libelle 201B, Club Libelle 205, and
Kestrel sailplanes. The LBA reports that considerable variation in the
weight and static moment of the control surfaces on 10 of the affected
sailplanes was found during repair or repainting. Glasflugel did not
define the required weight or static moment of the control surfaces at
the time of manufacture of these sailplanes. If the control surface
weight and static moment of these sailplanes are not within certain
limits, flutter could result with subsequent loss of control of the
sailplane.
Applicable Service Information
Glasflugel has issued amendments to the maintenance manual that
include procedures for measuring and adjusting the weight and static
moment of the control surfaces. The following specifies the maintenance
manual amendments for each specific sailplane model:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance manual amendment
Sailplane models page numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H301 Libelle and H301B Libelle............ Pages 14a and 14b.
Standard Libelle.......................... Pages E14a and E14b.
Standard Libelle 201B..................... Pages E15a and E15b.
Club Libelle 205.......................... Pages 42a and 42b.
Kestrel................................... Pages 27a and 27b.
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The FAA's Determination
The LBA issued LTA AD 96-137, LTA AD 96-138, and LTA AD 96-139, all
dated April 9, 1996, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of
these sailplanes in Germany.
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, including the maintenance
manual amendments referenced above; and determined that AD action is
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Glasflugel Models H301 ``Libelle'', H301B
``Libelle'', Standard ``Libelle'', Standard Libelle 201B, Club Libelle
205, and Kestrel sailplanes of the same type design registered in the
United States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would
require measuring and adjusting the control surface weight and static
moment, and inserting the
[[Page 53684]]
following amendments into the maintenance manual, as applicable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance manual amendment
Sailplane models page numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H301 Libelle and H301B Libelle............ Pages 14a and 14b.
Standard Libelle.......................... Pages E14a and E14b.
Standard Libelle 201B..................... Pages E15a and E15b.
Club Libelle 205.......................... Pages 42a and 42b.
Kestrel................................... pages 27a and 27b.
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Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The compliance time for the proposed AD is presented in calendar
time and whenever the control surface is repaired or repainted (the
prevalent one being that which occurs first). The FAA has determined
that a calendar time for compliance would be desirable because the
unsafe condition described by the proposed AD is not directly related
to sailplane operation. The control surface weight and static moment
could become outside the specified limits after repair or repainting
instead of occurring during normal operation of the sailplane. Also, if
the sailplane control surface is already scheduled for repair or
repainting, then accomplishing the proposed action at the time of
repair or repainting would not force the owner/operator to schedule
this action at a later time and would allow the action to be
accomplished during already-scheduled maintenance.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 174 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. Material to accomplish
the surface control weight and static moment balance costs
approximately $10 per sailplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $12,180.
This figure only takes into account the one-time measurement and
adjustment of the control surface weight and static moment; it does not
reflect the time it would take an owner/operator of an affected
sailplane to insert the amendments into the maintenance manual.
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, 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 USC 106(g), 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. 96-CE-38-AD.
Applicability: Models H301 ``Libelle'', H301B ``Libelle'',
Standard ``Libelle'', Standard Libelle 201B, Club Libelle 205, and
Kestrel sailplanes (all serial numbers), 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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next three calendar months after
the effective date of this AD or at the time of any repair to or
repainting of the control surface, whichever occurs first, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent sailplane flutter because the weight and static
moment of the control surface are not within certain limits, which
could result loss of control of the sailplane, accomplish the
following:
(a) Measure and adjust the control surface weight and static
moment in accordance with the maintenance manual amendments
referenced in paragraph (b) of this AD.
(b) Insert the following amendments into the sailplane
maintenance manual, as applicable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailplane models Amendment page numbers
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H301 Libelle and H301B Libelle............ Pages 14a and 14b.
Standard Libelle.......................... Pages E14a and E14b.
Standard Libelle 201B..................... Pages E15a and E15b.
Club Libelle 205.......................... Pages 42a and 42b.
Kestrel................................... Pages 27a and 27b.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Inserting the amendments into the maintenance manual 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 aircraft 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, 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 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 maintenance manual amendments referred to herein upon request to
Glasflugel, c/o Hr. H. Streifeneder, Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service
GmbH, Hofener Weg, D-72582 Grabenstetten, Germany; or may examine
these amendments at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64106.
[[Page 53685]]
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 7, 1996.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-26253 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U