[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7082-7083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3519]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 
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 Alexander Schleicher (Schleicher) Model ASK-21 
sailplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting the S-shaped 
rudder pedal tube for displacement, and correcting any displacement of 
the plastic tube. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent rudder control jamming, which, if not corrected, could result 
in loss of directional control of the sailplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-104-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 Alexander Schleicher, Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 Poppenhausen, 
Wasserkuppe, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone 49.6658.890 or 
49.6658.8920; facsimile: 49.6658.8923 or 49.6658.8940. 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/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. 97-CE-104-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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for the Federal Republic of Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes. The 
LBA reports that the plastic tube in the S-shaped rudder pedal tube is 
slipping out of the rudder pedal tube and causing the rudder pedal to 
jam. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of 
directional control of the sailplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Alexander Schleicher has issued Technical Note No. 20, dated 
October 16, 1987, which specifies procedures for inspecting the plastic 
S-shaped rudder pedal tube for displacement. If the tube is displaced, 
the technical note requires that the displacement of the plastic tube 
be corrected.
    The LBA classified this technical note as mandatory and issued AD 
88-2 Schleicher, dated January 18, 1988, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.

The FAA's Determination

    The Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes are manufactured 
in Germany and are 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 sailplanes 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 Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes 
of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed 
AD would require inspecting the plastic S-shaped rudder pedal tube for 
displacement. If the rudder tube is displaced, the proposed action 
would require correcting the placement of the plastic S-shaped rudder 
pedal tube. Accomplishment of the proposed inspection would be in 
accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of Alexander 
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987.

Proposed Compliance Time

    The proposed action, the LBA AD, and the Alexander Schleicher 
Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987, differ on compliance 
time. The LBA AD and the Technical Note require that the inspection for 
displacement of the plastic tube be accomplished prior to further 
flight.

[[Page 7083]]

    The FAA is proposing a calendar compliance time instead of hours 
time-in-service (TIS) because the service history on the U.S.-
registered Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes does not 
warrant a need for immediate compliance. Also, the average monthly 
usage of the affected sailplanes varies throughout the fleet. For 
example, one owner may operate the sailplane 25 hours TIS in one week, 
while another operator may operate the sailplane 25 hours TIS in one 
year. In order to ensure that all of the affected sailplanes have been 
inspected for displacement of the plastic S-shaped rudder tube and any 
displacement has been corrected within a reasonable amount of time, the 
FAA is proposing a compliance time of 6 calendar months.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 30 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 $5 (for glue) per sailplane. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $3,750 or $125 per 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, 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), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Alexander Schliecher: Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD.

    Applicability: Model ASK-21 sailplanes (serial numbers 21001 
through 21345), 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 6 calendar months after the 
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent rudder control jamming, which, if not corrected, 
could result in loss of directional control of the sailplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the plastic S-shaped rudder pedal tube for 
displacement in accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and 
1.3 of Alexander Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 
1987.
    (b) If there is any displacement of the plastic S-shaped rudder 
pedal tube, prior to further flight, correct the placement in 
accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of Alexander 
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987.
    (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, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 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) Questions or technical information related to Alexander 
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987, should be 
directed to Alexander Schleicher, Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 
Poppenhausen, Wasserkuppe, Federal Republic of Germany. This service 
information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD No. 88-
2 Schleicher, dated January 18, 1988.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 5, 1998.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3519 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P