[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67506-67508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32438]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-96-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhardt Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH 
Model G 103 Twin Astir 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 certain Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt (Grob) Model G 
103 Twin Astir sailplanes. The proposed action would require replacing 
the airbrake over-center lever and installing new inspection holes. 
Cracked airbrake over-center levers found during routine inspections 
prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent an asymmetrical airbrake deployment causing an 
uncontrollable roll and possible loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the proposal in triplicate to the Federal

[[Page 67507]]

Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-96-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 Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH., D-8939, Mattsies-am Flugplatz, 
Germany. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at 
the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer, 
Sailplanes, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 
426-2165.

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. 95-CE-96-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. 95-CE-96-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 Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes. The LBA reports that 
cracks have been discovered in the airbrake over-center lever on three 
Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes during the routine 3,000 hours time-
in-service (TIS) inspections. This condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could result in an unexpected asymmetrical airbrake 
deployment resulting in an uncontrollable roll of the sailplane.
    Grob has issued Service Bulletin TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 
1993 and Grob Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991, 
which specifies procedures for replacing the airbrake over-center lever 
and installing new inspection holes.
    The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD 
92-309/2 Grob, dated February 26, 1993, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.

FAA's Determination

    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 service 
information 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 Grob G 103 Twin Astir sailplanes of the same 
type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would 
require replacing the airbrake over-center lever (Grob part number (P/
N) 103-4123 (left) and P/N 103-4124 (right)) with a new part of 
improved design (Grob P/N 103B-4123 (left) and 103B-4124 (right)) and 
installing new inspection holes.

Related Service Information

    Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 
Grob Service Bulletin TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 1993, and Grob 
Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 60 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12 
workhours per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $650 per sailplane. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$82,200 or $1,370 per sailplane. The FAA has no way of determining how 
many owners/operators have accomplished the proposed action and 
therefore assumes that none of the owners/operators of the affected 
sailplanes have accomplished the proposed action.

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

[[Page 67508]]

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), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

    Burkhardt Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH. (Grob): Docket No. 95-
CE-96-AD.

    Applicability: Model G 103 Twin Astir Sailplane (serial numbers 
3000 through 3291, with or without the suffix ``T''), 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 (d) 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 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent an asymmetrical airbrake deployment causing an 
uncontrollable roll and possible loss of control of the sailplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the airbrake over-center lever (Grob part number (P/
N) 103-4123, left, and 103-4124, right) with a new part of improved 
design (Grob P/N 103B-4123, left, and 103B-4124, right) in 
accordance with the Procedures section of Grob Service Bulletin (SB) 
TM 315-47/2, dated January 20, 1993, and Grob Repair Instructions 
No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 1991.
    (b) Install inspection holes in accordance with the Procedure 
section of Grob Repair Instructions No. 315-45/2, dated October 11, 
1991.
    (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 the sailplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) 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, 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.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
these documents referred to herein upon request to Grob Luft-und 
Raumfahrt, GmbH., D-8939, Mattsies-am Flugplatz, 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 December 13, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-32438 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U