[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4205-4206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2104]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-37-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart Grob, Luft- und Raumfahrt, 
Model G 103 C Twin III SL 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 the Burkhart Grob, Luft- und Raumfahrt (Grob) 
Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes. The proposed action would require 
inspecting the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel for increased 
play and, if increased play is found, modifying the propeller bearing 
and pulley wheel with a part of improved design. The proposed action is 
prompted by two reports of Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes losing 
the engine propeller while in flight and one operator finding increased 
play in the sailplane propeller during an inspection. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the loss of the 
sailplane engine propeller and possibly causing loss of the sailplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 3, 1997.

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-37-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 Burkhart Grob Luft und Raumfahrt, D-86874 Mattsies, 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, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service, 
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone 
(816) 426-6934, 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-37-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-37-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may 
exist on certain Grob Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes, serial 
numbers (S/N) 35002 through 35051. The LBA reports that two Model G 103 
C Twin III SL sailplanes lost the engine propeller while in flight, and 
one operator found increased play in the sailplane propeller bearing 
and upper pulley wheel during an inspection. Increased play is defined 
by measuring the movement at the outer edge of the brake disc. If the 
movement exceeds or is equal to 0.4 mm, then the outer bearing and 
upper pulley wheel would need to be replaced. This increased play could 
start rotating the outer bearing races and damage the grooved nut, 
subsequently causing the engine propeller to come loose and possibly 
fall off. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result 
in loss of the sailplane.
    Grob has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 869-18, dated March 7, 1996, 
and SB 869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996, that revises page six of SB 869-
18, which specifies inspecting the propeller bearing for increased play 
and modifying the propeller bearing, if increased play is found.

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, 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 C Twin III SL sailplanes of the 
same type design, the proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting 
the propeller bearing and pulley wheel for increased play, eventually 
modifying the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel by installing a 
part of improved design.

Related Service Information

    Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 
Grob Service Bulletin (SB) 869-18, dated March 7, 1996, and Grob SB 
869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996, which is a

[[Page 4206]]

revised page 6 of the Grob SB 869-18, dated March 7, 1996.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 8 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 hour 
per sailplane to accomplish the proposed initial inspection and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The estimated cost 
for the initial inspection would be $60 per sailplane. Based on this 
figure, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $480.
    Grob has informed the FAA that no parts have been distributed to 
equip any sailplane in the United States. The FAA has no way of 
determining how many owners/operators may have incorporated the 
proposed action on their sailplane.

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, 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), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Burkhardt Grob: Docket No. 96-CE-37-AD.

    Applicability: Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes (serial 
numbers 35002 through 35051, including gliders), 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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (d) 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent the loss of the sailplane engine propeller and 
possibly causing loss of the sailplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 5 engine operating hours do one of the 
following:
    (1) Modify the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel by 
installing parts of improved design in accordance with the 
``Actions: 2.'' and the ``Installation Instructions'' sections of 
Grob service bulletin (SB) 869-18, dated March 7, 1996, and Grob SB 
869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996; or,
    (2) Inspect the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel for 
increased play (movement that exceeds or is equal to 0.4 mm) in 
accordance with the ``Actions'' section of Grob service bulletin 
(SB) 869-18, dated March 7, 1996.
    (i) If increased play is found, prior to further flight, 
accomplish the modification in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD or,
    (ii) If no increased play is found, continue to repetitively 
inspect for increased play in the propeller bearing and upper pulley 
wheel every 5 engine operating hours in accordance with the 
``Actions: 1.'' section in Grob SB 869-18, dated March 7, 1996, and 
Grob SB 869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996. If increased play is found 
during any inspection, then, prior to further flight, accomplish the 
modifications in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.
    (b) Accomplishing the modification in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
AD is a terminating action to the repetitive inspection required in 
paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this AD.
    (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 
initial and repetitive 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, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, 
Kansas City, Missouri, 64106.

    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 document referred to herein upon request to Burkhart Grob 
Luftund Raumfahrt, D-86874 Mattsies, Germany; or may examine this 
document 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 22, 1997.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR DOC. 97-2104 Filed 1-28 97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P