[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