[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25037-25041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10145]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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. 87 / Wednesday, May 5, 2004 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 25037]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-35-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart GROB Luft--UND Raumfahrt GmbH 
& CO KG Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103A TWIN II ACRO, and G103C TWIN III 
ACRO Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-
19-14 which applies to all Burkhart GROB Luft--UND Raumfahrt GmbH & CO 
KG (GROB) Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, G103A TWIN II ACRO, and 
G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes. AD 2003-19-14 currently requires you to 
modify the airspeed indicators, install flight speed reduction and 
aerobatic maneuver restriction placards (as applicable), and revise the 
flight and maintenance manual. This proposed AD would retain all the 
actions in AD 2003-19-14 for all Model G103 TWIN ASTIR sailplanes, 
would remove Model G103 TWIN II from the applicability, and would 
retain the aerobatic maneuver restriction for Model G103C TWIN III ACRO 
sailplanes. This proposed AD would also require you to revise the 
modification to airspeed indicators, install a revised flight speed 
reduction placard, and revise the flight and maintenance manual for 
certain Models G103A TWIN II ACRO, and G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes. 
Simple Aerobatic maneuvers would also be re-approved for Model G103A 
TWIN II ACRO sailplanes. An option for modifying the rear fuselage for 
Models G103A TWIN II ACRO and G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes that 
terminates the flight limitation restrictions for aerobatic maneuvers 
is also included in this proposed AD.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by May 21, 
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-35-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-35-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 GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; telephone: 011 49 8268 998139; 
facsimile: 011 49 8268 998200; email: [email protected].
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-35-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: Gregory A. 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-35-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

    Has FAA taken any action to this point? Reports from the Luftfahrt-
Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, that 
the safety margins established into the design of the fuselage may not 
have been sufficient to sustain limit loads during certain maneuvers 
and during flight at certain speeds caused us to issue AD 2003-19-14, 
Amendment 39-13317 (68 FR 56152, September 30, 2003). AD 2003-19-14 
requires the following:

--Modifying the airspeed indicators;
--installing placards restricting flight speeds, prohibiting aerobatic 
maneuvers, and restricting load limits; and
--incorporating revisions to the flight and maintenance manuals.

    AD 2003-19-14 was issued as an interim action until the 
manufacturer completed further investigations into the effects of 
certain flight conditions on the fuselage structure and the development 
of corrective procedures.
    What has happened since AD 2003-19-14 to initiate this proposed AD 
action? The manufacturer conducted further static strength tests to 
verify the safety margin of the fuselage on the affected sailplanes. 
The results of these tests verified the following:
    For Model G103 TWIN ASTIR sailplanes:
--retain all flight limitation restrictions in AD 2003-19-14.
    For Model G103 TWIN II sailplanes:
--reinstate the original flight speed limitations and maneuver 
operations.
    For Model G103A TWIN II ACRO (utility category) sailplanes:
--reinstate the original flight speed limitations and maneuver 
operations; and
--allow only basic aerobatic maneuvers (spins, lazy eights, chandelles, 
stall turns, steep turns, and positive loops).

[[Page 25038]]

    For Model G103A TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic category) sailplanes:
--reinstate the original flight speed limitations except for rough air 
(VB) and maneuvering speeds (VA); and
--allow only basic aerobatic maneuvers (spins, lazy eights, chandelles, 
stall turns, steep turns, and positive loops).
    For Model G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes:
--increase airspeed limits specified in AD 2003-19-14 but maintain a 
reduction from the original limitations; and
--retain restrictions in AD 2003-19-14 on all aerobatic flights, 
including simple maneuvers, and cloud flying.
    The manufacturer has also developed a modification for Models G103A 
TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic category) and G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes 
(aerobatic category). When this modification is incorporated, full 
acrobatic status is restored to these sailplanes.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? If not 
prevented, damage to the fuselage during limit load flight could result 
in reduced structural integrity. This condition could lead to loss of 
control of the sailplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Grob has 
issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB315-65, dated September 15, 
2003; Optional Service Bulletin OSB 315-66, dated October 16, 2003, and 
Work Instruction for Optional Service Bulletin OSB-315-66, dated 
October 16, 2003.
    What are the provisions of this service information? Mandatory 
Service Bulletin No. MSB315-65, dated September 15, 2003, includes 
procedures for:
--modifying the airspeed indicators;
--installing a revised flight speed reduction placard; and
--revising the flight and maintenance manual (as applicable).
    Optional Service Bulletin OSB 315-66, dated October 16, 2003, and 
Work Instruction for Optional Service Bulletin OSB-315-66, dated 
October 16, 2003, include procedures for installing stringers in the 
rear fuselage for Models G103A TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic category) and 
G103C TWIN III ACRO (aerobatic category) sailplanes to terminate the 
flight limitation restrictions for aerobatic maneuvers.
    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified Service Bulletin 
No. MSB315-65, dated September 15, 2003, as mandatory and issued German 
AD Number D-2004-002, dated January 23, 2004, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.
    Did the LBA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These GROB Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103A TWIN 
II ACRO, and G103C TWIN III ACRO 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.
    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 GROB Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103A TWIN II ACRO, 
and G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes of the same type design that are 
registered in the United States, we are proposing AD action to prevent 
the possibility of damage to the fuselage during limit load flight due 
to inadequate safety margins designed into the fuselage. Such a 
condition could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage 
and lead to loss of control of the sailplane.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletins.
    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 94 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 the proposed modifications to the airspeed indicators, 
flight limitations placards, and revising the flight and maintenance 
manual:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Total cost per
           Labor cost                    Parts cost            sailplane        Total cost on U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $65 = $65..........  Not applicable..........             $65  $65 x 94 = $6,110.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish this proposed 
modification to 35 of the affected sailplanes in the aerobatic 
category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       sailplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 workhours x $65 = $1,950.............          $5,307          $7,257
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 25039]]

    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-35-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 removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 2003-19-14, Amendment 39-13317 (68 FR 56152, September 30, 2003), 
and by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Burkhart Grob Luft--UND Raumfahrt GmbH & Co KG: Docket No. 2003-CE-
35-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 May 21, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) This AD revises AD 2003-19-14.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following sailplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G103 TWIN ASTIR...........................  All serial numbers.
G103A TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic category)...  3544 through 34078 with
                                             suffix ``K''.
G103C TWIN III ACRO (aerobatic category)..  34101 through 34203.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This proposed 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 prevent the possibility of damage to the fuselage during limit 
load flight. Such a condition could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the fuselage and lead to loss of control of the 
sailplane.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Actions                                                       Compliance                Procedures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For G103 TWIN ASTIR sailplanes:                                                                   Within the next 10 hours  Following GROB Alert
(i) Modify the airspeed indicators;                                                                    time-in-service (TIS)     Service Bulletin No.
(ii) Install flight speed, aerobatic maneuver, and load limit restriction placards; and                after October 20, 2003    ASB315-64, dated June
(iii) Revise the flight and maintenance manual.                                                        (the effective date of    30, 2003.
                                                                                                       AD 2003-19-14).
(2) For G103A TWIN II ACRO (acrobatic category) and G103C TWIN III ACRO (acrobatic category)          Within the next 25 hours  Follow Grob Service
 sailplanes:                                                                                           time-in-service (TIS)     Bulletin No. MSB315-65,
(i) Re-set the airspeed indicator to the new placard limitations; and                                  after the effective       dated September 15,
(ii) Install the following placards on Model G103A TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic category) sailplanes:       date of this AD.          2003.

                                                                                                                                 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP05MY04.001
                                                                                                                                 

(iii) Install the following placards on Model G103C TWIN III ACRO (aerobatic category)
 sailplanes:
 


[[Page 25040]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP05MY04.002


(3) For G103A TWIN II ACRO (acrobatic category) and G103C TWIN III ACRO (acrobatic category)          At any time after the     Follow Grob Service
 sailplanes: as an alternative to the flight restrictions in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD, you may      effective date of this    Bulletin No. OSB 315-
 install additional stringers in the rear fuselage section. Installing additional stringers            AD.                       66, dated October 16,
 terminates the flight restrictions in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.                                                              2003, and Work
                                                                                                                                 Instruction for OSB 315-
                                                                                                                                 66, dated October 16,
                                                                                                                                 2003.
(4) For G103A TWIN II ACRO (acrobatic category) and G103C TWIN III ACRO (acrobatic category)          Prior to further flight   Follow Grob Service
 sailplanes: only if you installed the additional stringers specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this      after doing the actions   Bulletin No. OSB 315-
 AD, do the following:                                                                                 in paragraph (e)(3) of    66, dated October 16,
(i) Remove the placard prohibiting all aerobatic maneuvers;                                            this AD.                  2003.
(ii) Install the following flight limitation placard on Model G103A TWIN II ACRO (aerobatic
 category) sailplanes:
 

                                                                                                                                 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP05MY04.003
                                                                                                                                 

(iii) Install the following flight limitation placard on Model G103C TWIN III ACRO (aerobatic
 category) sailplanes:
 

 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP05MY04.004
 

[[Page 25041]]

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 Gregory A. 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 GROB Luftund Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; telephone: 011 49 8268 998139; 
facsimile: 011 49 8268 998200; email: [email protected]. 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 D-2004-002, dated January 23, 2004, also 
addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, 2004.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10145 Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P