[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11171-11173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5796]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt Models 
G115C, G115C2, G115D, and G115D2 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 96-19-07, which currently requires the following on Burkhart Grob 
Luft-und Raumfahrt (Grob) Models G115C, G115C2, G115D, and G115D2 
airplanes: installing a placard that restricts the never exceed speed 
(Vne) of the affected airplane models from 184 knots to 160 knots; 
installing on the airspeed indicator glass a red line at 296 km/h (160 
knots); installing a placard that prohibits aerobatic maneuvers; and 
placing a copy of the AD in the Limitations Section of the airplane 
flight manual. The proposed AD would temporarily retain the flight 
restrictions that are currently required by AD 96-19-07; and would 
eventually require accomplishing certain inspections and modifications, 
as terminating action for these flight restrictions. 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 loss of control of 
the airplane caused by excessive speed or aerobatic maneuvers.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-24-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-8939 Mattsies, Germany. This 
information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karl M. Schletzbaum, Aerospace 
Engineer, 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.

[[Page 11172]]

    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. 98-CE-24-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. 98-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    AD 96-19-07, Amendment 39-9765 (61 FR 49250, September 19, 1996), 
currently requires the following on Models G115C, G115C2, G115D, and 
G115D2 airplanes: installing a placard that restricts the never exceed 
speed (Vne) of the affected airplane models from 184 knots to 160 
knots; installing on the airspeed indicator glass a red line at 296 km/
h (160 knots); installing a placard that prohibits aerobatic maneuvers; 
and placing a copy of the AD in the Limitations Section of the airplane 
flight manual.
    AD 96-19-07 was the result of an in-flight breakup of a Grob Model 
G115D airplane. Investigation of this accident was continuing at the 
time the FAA issued AD 96-19-07.

Events Since AD 96-19-07 and Relevant Service Information

    Since AD 96-19-07 became effective, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), 
which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, has kept the FAA 
informed of the investigation results and all other information 
regarding the above-referenced in-flight breakup. This information 
resulted in Grob issuing the following service information to address 
the conditions found through the investigation:

--Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-59/3, dated October 24, 1996, which 
specifies procedures for inspecting the nose wheel steering, the 
sliding canopy and canopy locking mechanism, the attachment of the 
horizontal stabilizer, the elevator installation, the vertical 
stabilizer, the rudder installation, and the weights and residual 
moments of the control surfaces; and repairing any discrepancies;
--Grob Installation Instructions 1078-64, dated December 11, 1996, 
which specifies procedures for replacing the elevator hinges with parts 
of improved design, as specified in both Grob Service Bulletin No. 
1078-64/2, dated April 8, 1997; and Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-64, 
dated December 11, 1996; and
--Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-66, dated February 10, 1997, which 
specifies procedures and figures for adjusting the mass and residual 
moments of the control surfaces.

    The LBA classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued 
German AD 96-270/2 Grob, dated December 5, 1996; German AD 96-270/3, 
dated December 4, 1997; and German AD 97-143, dated May 22, 1997, in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
Germany.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane 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 bulletins 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 Models G115C, G115C2, G115D, and G115D2 
airplanes of the same type design registered for operation in the 
United States, the FAA is proposing an AD to supersede AD 96-19-07. The 
proposed AD would temporarily retain the flight restrictions that are 
currently required by AD 96-19-07, and would eventually require the 
inspections and modifications specified in the service information 
previously referenced, as terminating action for the flight 
restrictions.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 23 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 40 
workhours (modification: 36 workhours; inspection: 4 workhours) per 
airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Grob will provide parts free of 
charge as part of its warranty program. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $55,200, or $2,400 per airplane.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 96-19-07, Amendment 39-9765 (61 FR 49250, September 19, 1996), and 
adding a new AD to read as follows:

Burkhart Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt: Docket No. 98-CE-24-AD; Supersedes 
AD 96-19-07, Amendment 39-9765.

    Applicability: Model G115C, G115C2, G115D, and G115D2 airplanes, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.


[[Page 11173]]


    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane 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 airplanes 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent loss of control of the airplane caused by excessive 
speed or aerobatic maneuvers, accomplish the following:
    (a) For all serial numbered airplanes, prior to further flight 
after September 26, 1996 (the effective date of AD 96-19-07), 
accomplish the following:
    (1) Install, on the limitation placard at the left-hand cabin 
wall, the airspeed placard that is included with Grob Service 
Bulletin No. 1078-59/2, dated September 2, 1996. This placard 
reduces the maximum airspeed to 296 kilometers per hour (km/h); 
equal to 160 knots per hour.
    (2) Modify the airspeed indicator glass by accomplishing the 
following:
    (i) Place a red radial line on the indicator glass at 296 km/h 
(160 knots). The minimum dimensions for this radial line are 0.05-
inch in width and 0.30-inch in length.
    (ii) Place a white 0.05-inch minimum width slippage index mark 
that connects both the instrument glass and bezel. This slippage 
index mark shall not obscure any airspeed markings.
    (3) Install, near the airspeed indicator, the red placard 
included with Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-59/2 that has the 
words: ``Aerobatic maneuvers are prohibited.''
    (4) Insert a copy of this AD into the Limitations Section of the 
airplane flight manual.

    Note 2: The actions of paragraph (a), including all 
subparagraphs, is the same as that required by AD 96-19-07, which is 
superseded by this action. These requirements are being temporarily 
retained in this AD to provide a grace period for accomplishing the 
other actions required by this AD.

    (b) Within the next 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, accomplish the following :
    (1) For all serial numbered airplanes, inspect the nose wheel 
steering, the sliding canopy and canopy locking mechanism, the 
attachment of the horizontal stabilizer, the elevator installation, 
the vertical stabilizer, the rudder installation, and the weights 
and residual moments of the control surfaces in accordance with the 
instructions in Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-59/3, dated October 
24, 1996. Prior to further flight, repair any discrepancies in 
accordance with the above-referenced service bulletin.
    (2) For airplanes incorporating a serial number in the range of 
82001 through 82077, replace the elevator hinges with parts of 
improved design in accordance with Grob Installation Instructions 
1078-64, dated December 11, 1996, as specified in both Grob Service 
Bulletin No. 1078-64/2, dated April 8, 1997; and Grob Service 
Bulletin No. 1078-64, dated December 11, 1996.
    (3) For airplanes incorporating a serial number in the range of 
82001 through 82077, after accomplishing the replacement required by 
paragraph (b)(2) of this AD, adjust the mass and residual moments in 
accordance with Grob Service Bulletin No. 1078-66, dated February 
10, 1997.
    (c) Accomplishing the actions required by paragraphs (b)(1), 
(b)(2), and (b)(3) of this AD eliminates the placard and flight 
restriction requirements of paragraph (a), including all 
subparagraphs, of this AD.
    (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 airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, 
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (1) 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.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 96-19-07 are not considered approved as alternative methods 
of compliance for this AD.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (f) Questions or technical information related to service 
information previously referenced should be directed to Burkhart 
Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, D-8939 Mattsies, 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.
    (g) This amendment supersedes AD 96-19-07, mendment 39-9765.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD 96-270/
2, dated December 5, 1996; German AD 96-270/3, dated December 4, 
1997; and German AD 97-143, dated May 22, 1997.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 2, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5796 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U