[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6585-6587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2954]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 28 / Wednesday, February 11, 2004 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 6585]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 
Segelflugzeugbau Model ASH 25M Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau (Alexander 
Schleicher) Model ASH 25M sailplanes equipped with fuel injected engine 
IAE50R-AA. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the fuel line 
for correct fittings, and, if any incorrect fitting is found, replace 
the fuel line. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct any 
fuel lines with improper fittings, which could result in fuel leakage 
and a possible fire hazard.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by March 22, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
     By mail: FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
     By fax: (816) 329-3771.
     By e-mail: [email protected]. Comments sent 
electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD'' in the subject 
line. If you send comments electronically as attached electronic files, 
the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, D-36163 
Poppenhausen, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: (011-49) 6658 89-
0; facsimile: (011-49) 6658 89-40.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Office hours are 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. 
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD 
Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD'' in the subject line of your comments. If you 
want us to acknowledge receipt of your mailed comments, send us a self-
addressed, stamped postcard with the docket number written on it. We 
will date-stamp your postcard and mail it back to you.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt 
(LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently 
notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Alexander Schleicher 
sailplanes. The LBA reports that an incorrect fitting at one end of a 
fuel line was installed during production of the Model ASH 25M 
sailplane equipped with fuel injected engine IAE50R-AA. The incorrect 
fitting includes a combination of sealing cones. After maintenance, the 
incorrect combination of sealing cones inside the fittings might cause 
a fuel leak.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Any 
fuel line with improper fittings could result in fuel leakage and a 
possible fire hazard.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? 
Alexander Schleicher has issued ASH 25 Mi Technical Note No. 22, dated 
February 21, 2003.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for:

--Inspecting the fuel line for correct fittings; and
--If any incorrect fitting is found, replacing the fuel line.

    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued German AD Number 2003-129, dated March 
21, 2003, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in 
Germany.
    Did the LBA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These Alexander Schleicher Model ASH 25M 
sailplanes are manufactured in Germany and are type-certificated for 
operation in the United States under the provisions of Sec. 21.29 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable 
bilateral airworthiness agreement.
    Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? We have examined the LBA's findings, 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.
    Since the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other Alexander Schleicher Model ASH 25M sailplanes of 
the same type design that are registered in the United States, we are 
proposing AD action to detect and correct any fuel lines with

[[Page 6586]]

improper fittings, which could result in fuel leakage and a possible 
fire hazard.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletin.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On 
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation 
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material 
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is 
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD 
actions.

Costs of Compliance

    How many sailplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 2 sailplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected sailplanes? We estimate the following costs 
to accomplish this proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Total cost per     Total cost on
                 Labor cost                             Parts cost                sailplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 workhour at $65 per hour = $65...........  Not Applicable................              $65              $130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacement that would be required based on the results of this 
proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
sailplanes that may need this replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Labor cost                        Parts cost               Total cost per sailplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour at $65 per hour = $65................            $160   $65 + $160 = $225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined 
that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial 
direct effect 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.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD 
and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-CE-64-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Alexander Schleicher GMBH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau: Docket No. 2003-
CE-64-AD.

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) by March 22, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects all Model ASH 25M sailplanes, all serial 
numbers, that are:
    (1) Certificated in any category; and
    (2) Equipped with fuel injected engine IAE50R-AA.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Germany. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and 
correct fuel lines with improper fittings, which could result in 
fuel leakage and a possible fire hazard.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the fuel line     Within the next 50    Follow Alexander
 between the injection valve   hours time-in-        Schleicher GmbH &
 and pressure regulator for    service (TIS) after   Co.
 the correct color of          the effective date    Segelflugzeugbau
 connecting fittings (The      of this AD, unless    ASH 25 Mi Technical
 connecting fitting at the     already done.         Note No. 22, dated
 injection valve must be                             February 21, 2003.
 blue and the connecting
 fitting at the pressure
 regulator must be black.).

[[Page 6587]]

 
(2) If you find any fuel      Before further        Follow Alexander
 line with blue connecting     flight after the      Schleicher GmbH &
 fittings at both ends, then   inspection required   Co.
 replace the fuel line with    by paragraph (e)(1)   Segelflugzeugbau
 a fuel line with a blue       of this AD.           ASH 25 Mi Technical
 connecting fitting at the                           Note No. 22, dated
 injection valve and a black                         February 21, 2003.
 connecting fitting at the
 pressure regulator.
(3) Do not install any fuel   As of the effective   Not Applicable.
 line that uses blue           date of this AD.
 connecting fittings at both
 ends.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Standards Office, Small 
Airplane Directorate, FAA. For information on any already approved 
alternative methods of compliance, contact Greg Davison, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.

May I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?

    (g) You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD 
from Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, D-36163 
Poppenhausen, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: (011-49) 6658 
89-0; facsimile: (011-49) 6658 89-40. You may view these documents 
at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (h) German AD Number 2003-129, dated March 21, 2003, also 
addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 4, 2004.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2954 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]
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