[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52424-52426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25220]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-68-AD; Amendment 39-11341; AD 99-20-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt GmbH & 
CO KG Models G103 TWIN II and G103A TWIN II ACRO Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Burkhart Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt GmbH & CO KG (Grob) 
Models G103 TWIN II and G103A TWIN II ACRO sailplanes. This AD requires 
accomplishing preflight checks of the fastening (knurled) nut at the 
rear control stick for cracks, and replacing the nut with one made of 
stainless steel either immediately or at a certain time period 
depending on whether a crack(s) is found. The checks are no longer 
required after the knurled nut is replaced. This AD is the result of 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 
airworthiness authority for Germany. The actions specified by this AD 
are intended to prevent the inability to use the rear control stick 
because of a cracked knurled nut, which could result in loss of control 
of the sailplane during flight instruction operations.

DATES: Effective October 21, 1999.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region,

[[Page 52425]]

Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-68-
AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from 
Grob-Werke GmbH & Co., Aerospace Division, P.O. Box 12 57, D-87712 
Mindelhein, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: ++ 49 8268 998-0; 
facsimile: ++ 49 8268 988-190. This information may also be examined at 
the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 99-CE-68-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934, facsimile: (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may 
exist on certain Grob Models G103 TWIN II and G103A TWIN II ACRO 
sailplanes. The LBA reports four instances of cracks in the fastening 
(knurled) nut at the rear control stick.
    These sailplanes are utilized extensively in flight instruction 
operations where the student is sitting in the front of the sailplane 
and the instructor is sitting in the rear of the sailplane. The 
instructor being able to utilize the rear control stick is imperative 
to the safety of these sailplanes.
    If a cracked knurled nut at the rear control stick is not detected 
and corrected in a timely manner, loss of control of the sailplane 
during flight instruction operations could occur because the instructor 
may lose the ability to utilize the rear control stick.

Relevant Service Information

    Grob has issued Service Bulletin 315-61/2, dated June 28, 1999, 
which specifies accomplishing preflight checks of the fastening 
(knurled) nut at the rear control stick for cracks, and replacing the 
nut with one made of stainless steel, part number (P/N) 103-4205.03/2, 
either immediately or at a certain time period depending on whether 
cracks are found. The P/N 103-4205.03/2 knurled nut is included as part 
of Grob Service Bulletin 315-61/2, dated June 28, 1999.
    The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
German AD 1999-216/2, dated July 15, 1999, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.

The 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, including the referenced service 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 This AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Grob Models G103 TWIN II and G103A TWIN II 
ACRO sailplanes of the same type design registered for operation in the 
United States, the FAA is issuing an AD. This AD requires accomplishing 
preflight checks of the fastening (knurled) nut at the rear control 
stick for cracks, and replacing the nut with one made of stainless 
steel either immediately or at a certain time period depending on 
whether cracks are found.

Compliance Time of This AD

    The replacement compliance time of this AD is presented in calendar 
time instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). Although cracking of the 
knurled nut at the rear control stick is a direct result of flight 
operations, the cracks could begin at any time and, if undetected, 
could cause the nut to break off and result in the inability to use the 
rear control stick. The cracks could initiate after 50 hours TIS on one 
sailplane, but not initiate until 500 hours TIS on another sailplane. 
For this reason, the FAA has determined that a compliance based on 
calendar time should be utilized in this AD in order to assure that the 
unsafe condition is addressed on all sailplanes in a reasonable time 
period.

Determination of the Effective Date of the AD

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for public 
prior comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered, 
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual 
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is 
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the 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 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 99-CE-68-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action 
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures

[[Page 52426]]

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this 
emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is 
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules 
Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

99-20-11 Burkhart Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt GmbH & CO KG: Amendment 
39-11341; Docket No. 99-CE-68-AD.

    Applicability: The following sailplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                           Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G103 TWIN II..............................  3501 through 3729.
G103A TWIN II ACRO........................  3501K through 3729K.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (g) 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 the inability to use the rear control stick because 
of a cracked knurled nut, which could result in loss of control of 
the sailplane during flight instruction operations, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Prior to each flight, check the fastening (knurled) nut at 
the rear control stick for cracks.
    (b) At whichever of the following times that occurs first, 
replace the knurled nut at the rear control stick with a stainless 
steel nut, part number 103-4205.03/2. This part is included with 
Grob Service Bulletin 315-61/2, dated June 28, 1999:
    (1) Prior to further flight if any cracked knurled nut is found 
during any preflight check required by paragraph (a) of this AD; or
    (2) Within the next 4 calendar months after the effective date 
of this AD if no cracks are found during any preflight check 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD.
    (c) Replacing the knurled nut at the rear control stick with a 
stainless steel nut, part number 103-4205.03/2, is considered 
terminating action for the preflight checks required by paragraph 
(a) of this AD.
    (d) The preflight checks required by paragraph (a) of this AD 
may be accomplished by the owner/operator holding at least a private 
pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the 
aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 
section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (e) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any affected sailplane, a knurled nut at the rear control stick 
that is not part number 103-4205.03/2.
    (f) 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.
    (g) 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, 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.

    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.

    (h) Questions or technical information related to Grob-Werke 
GmbH & Co., Aerospace Division, P.O. Box 12 57, D-87712 Mindelhein, 
Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: ++ 49 8268 998-0; facsimile: 
++ 49 8268 988-190. 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 1999-
216/2, dated July 15, 1999, and in Grob Service Bulletin 315-61/2, 
dated June 28, 1999.

    (i) This amendment becomes effective on October 21, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 20, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25220 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
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