[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43649-43651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21910]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-49-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolladen Schneider Flugzeugbau GmbH
Models LS 3-A, LS 4, and LS 4a 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 Rolladen Schneider Flugzeugbau GmbH
(Rolladen Schneider) Models LS 3-A, LS 4, and LS 4a sailplanes. The
proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the forward elevator
mounting bracket on the vertical tail fin for looseness, and, if any
loose bracket is found, modifying the area and installing a new forward
elevator mounting bracket. 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 detect and correct loose forward elevator mounting
brackets, which could result in these brackets separating from the
sailplane with consequent loss of control of the sailplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-49-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 Rolladen-Schneider Flugzeugbau GmbH, Muhlstrasse 10, D-63329
Egelsbach, 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, Aircraft 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. 95-CE-49-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
[[Page 43650]]
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-49-AD, Room 1558,
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority
for Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on
certain Rolladen Schneider Models LS 3-A, LS 4, and LS 4a sailplanes.
The LBA reports an incident where the forward elevator mounting bracket
on the vertical tailplane fin broke loose.
Separation of the forward elevator mounting bracket from the
tailplane fin could result in loss of control of the sailplane.
Relevant Service Information
Rolladen Schneider has issued Technical Bulletin No. 3043/4035,
dated July 14, 1993, which specifies procedures for inspecting the
forward elevator mounting bracket for looseness. Rolladen Schneider EB-
4 Instructions, dated July 7, 1993, include procedures for the
following on sailplanes where loose forward elevator mounting brackets
are found:
--modifying the area of the forward elevator mounting bracket; and
--installing a new forward elevator mounting bracket.
The LBA classified this service information as mandatory and issued
German AD 93-155, dated July 21, 1993, 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 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 Rolladen Schneider Models LS 3-A, LS 4, and
LS 4a sailplanes of the same type design registered in the United
States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require
repetitively inspecting the forward elevator mounting bracket on the
vertical tail fin for looseness, and, if any loose bracket is found,
modifying the area and installing a new forward elevator mounting
bracket. Accomplishment of the proposed inspections would be required
in accordance with Rolladen Schneider Technical Bulletin No. 3043/4035,
dated July 14, 1993. Accomplishment of the proposed modification and
installation would be required in accordance with the Rolladen
Schneider BA-4 Instructions, dated July 7, 1993, as referenced in
Rolladen Schneider Technical Bulletin No. 3043/4035, dated July 14,
1993.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 62 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per sailplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $3,720, or $60 per sailplane.
These figures do not take into account the cost of any modification
or installation that would be required by the proposed AD if the
forward elevator mounting bracket was found loose during the proposed
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining how many sailplanes would
have loose forward elevator mounting brackets that would require
replacement.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The compliance time for the proposed inspection would initially be
within 30 calendar days and thereafter every 12 calendar months. The
reason for the initial calendar compliance time of 30 calendar days is
to assure in a reasonable time period that all of the affected
sailplanes do not have loose forward elevator mounting brackets. The
proposed repetitive compliance time of every 12 calendar months is
being proposed to allow sailplane owners/operators the opportunity to
schedule the inspections to coincide with regularly scheduled
maintenance or annual inspections.
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:
Rolladen Schneider Flugzeugbau GMBH:
Docket No. 95-CE-49-AD.
Applicability: Models LS 3-A, LS 4, and LS 4a sailplanes, all
serial numbers, 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.
[[Page 43651]]
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To detect and correct loose forward elevator mounting brackets,
which could result in these brackets separating from the sailplane
with consequent loss of control of the sailplane, accomplish the
following:
(a) Within the next 30 calendar days after the effective date of
this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar
months, inspect the forward elevator mounting bracket for looseness.
Apply a torque of 130 inches/pounds on the elevator mounting bracket
and do not apply a force to the bonded in-ball. Accomplish the
inspections in accordance with the Material and Instructions section
of Rolladen Schneider Technical Bulletin No. 3043/4035, dated July
14, 1993.
(b) If any loose forward elevator mounting bracket is found
during any inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight,
modify the area and install a new forward elevator mounting bracket
in accordance with the Rolladen Schneider BA-4 Instructions, dated
July 7, 1993, as referenced in Rolladen Schneider Technical Bulletin
No. 3043/4035, dated July 14, 1993. Continue to reinspect as
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 12
calendar months.
(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 or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate. 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 the service
information contained in this AD should be directed to Rolladen-
Schneider Flugzeugbau GmbH, Muhlstrasse 10, D-63329 Egelsbach,
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 93-155,
dated July 21, 1993.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 10, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21910 Filed 8-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U