[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 107 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31327-31330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12575]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2004-CE-10-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Grob-Werke Gmbh & Co KG Models G102 
CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III 
Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2001-26-25, which applies to all Grob-Werke Gmbh & Co KG (Grob) Models 
G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III 
sailplanes. AD 2001-26-25 currently requires you to apply a red mark 
and install a placard on the airspeed indicator to restrict the Vne 
airspeed. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. Consequently, this proposed AD would require you to 
install additional mass balance in the elevator and ailerons and 
determine resultant empty weight and empty weight center of gravity; 
incorporate a revision in the sailplane maintenance manual; and remove 
the red mark and the red placard on the airspeed indicator (both 
required by AD 2001-26-25). We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent 
elevator flutter, which could cause structural damage. Such damage 
could result in loss of control of the sailplane.

DATE: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by July 1, 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. 2004-CE-10-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. 2004-CE-10-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, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: 49 8268 
998139; facsimile: 49 8268 998200.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004-CE-10-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.

[[Page 31328]]


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. 2004-CE-10-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? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt 
(LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, reported that 
during flight operation of Model G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb sailplanes, two 
events of elevator flutter occurred in the upper flight speed range due 
to unknown causes. This resulted in us issuing AD 2001-26-25, Amendment 
39-12591 (67 FR 809, January 8, 2002).
    AD 2001-26-25 currently requires the following on Grob Models G102 
CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III 
sailplanes:

--Application of a red mark on the airspeed indicator at 165 km/h, 89.1 
kts, or 102.5 mph (according to the airspeed indicator calibration); 
and
--Installation of a red placard to the airspeed indicator restricting 
the Vne airspeed to 165 km/h, 89.1 kts, or 102.5 mph (according to the 
airspeed indicator calibration).

    What has happened since AD 2001-26-25 to initiate this proposed 
action? The LBA recently notified FAA of the need to change AD 2001-26-
25. As a result of extensive tests and calculations, the LBA has 
determined that operation within the original margins can be approved 
if additional mass balance is installed in the elevators and ailerons.
    Additionally, the LBA has determined that the operation with 
restricted Vne airspeed to 165 km/h, 89.1 kts, or 102.5 mph (according 
to the airspeed indicator calibration) is permitted to continue until 
additional mass balance is installed in the elevator and ailerons.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Elevator 
flutter could cause structural damage. Such damage could result in loss 
of control of the sailplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Grob has 
issued the following:

--Service Bulletin No. MSB306-36/3, dated December 4, 2002;
--Service Installation Instructions No. MSB306-36/3, dated April 18, 
2002; and
--Instructions for Continued Airworthiness GROB G 102, Revision 1, 
dated April 18, 2002.
    What are the provisions of this service information? This service 
information includes procedures for:
--Installing additional mass balance in the elevator and ailerons and 
determining empty weight and empty weight center of gravity after 
installing any additional mass balance;
--Incorporating Revision 2, dated December 4, 2002, in the sailplane 
maintenance manual or other appropriate document; and
--Removing the red mark on the airspeed indicator (required by AD 2001-
26-25) at 165 km/h, 89.1 kts, or 102.5 mph.

    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service 
information as mandatory and issued German AD Number 2001-317/4, dated 
January 9, 2003, 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 G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 
CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III 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 G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR 
IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III sailplanes of the same type design 
that are registered in the United States, we are proposing AD action to 
prevent elevator flutter, which could cause structural damage. Such 
damage could result in loss of control of the sailplane.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would 
supersede AD 2001-26-25 with a new AD that would incorporate the 
actions in the previously-referenced service bulletin and require 
removing the red placard to the airspeed indicator (currently required 
by AD 2001-26-25) restricting the Vne airspeed to 165 km/h, 89.1 kts, 
or 102.5 mph (according to the airspeed indicator calibration).
    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 50 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 do this proposed modification to install additional mass balance in 
the elevator and ailerons and determine the empty weight and empty 
weight center of gravity; incorporate a revision in the applicable 
sailplane maintenance manual; and remove the red mark on the airspeed 
indicator and the red placard to the airspeed indicator:

[[Page 31329]]



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                                                                                       Total cost    Total cost
                Labor cost                                 Parts cost                      per         on U.S.
                                                                                        sailplane     operators
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10 workhours x $65 per hour = $650........  Not Applicable..........................         $650       $32,500
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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. 2004-CE-10-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) 2001-26-25, Amendment 39-12591 (67 FR 809, January 8, 2002), and 
by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Grob-Werke Gmbh & Co KG: Docket No. 2004-CE-10-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 July 1, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected By This Action?

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2001-26-25.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following Models G102 CLUB ASTIR III, 
G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III sailplanes, all 
serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.

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 prevent 
elevator flutter, which could cause structural damage. Such damage 
could result in loss of control of the sailplane.

What Must I Do to Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Install additional mass   Within the next 25    Follow GROB Luft-und
 balance in the elevator and   hours time-in-        Raumfahrt Service
 ailerons and determine        service (TIS) after   Bulletin No. MSB306-
 resultant empty weight and    the effective date    36/3, dated
 empty weight center of        of this AD.           December 4, 2002;
 gravity.                                            GROB Luft-und
                                                     Raumfahrt Service
                                                     Installation
                                                     Instructions No.
                                                     MSB306-36/3, dated
                                                     April 18, 2002; and
                                                     Instructions for
                                                     Continued
                                                     Airworthiness GROB
                                                     G 102, Revision 1,
                                                     dated April 18,
                                                     2002. The
                                                     applicable
                                                     sailplane
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     also addresses this
                                                     issue.
(2) Incorporate Instructions  Before further        Not Applicable.
 for Continued Airworthiness   flight after
 GROB G 102, Revision 1,       installing the
 dated April 18, 2002, in      additional mass
 the sailplane maintenance     balance and
 manual, or other              determining the
 appropriate document.         empty weight and
                               empty weight center
                               of gravity required
                               by paragraph (d)(1)
                               of this AD.
(3) Remove the red mark on    Before further        Follow GROB Luft-und
 the airspeed indicator        flight after          Raumfahrt Service
 (formerly required by AD      installing the        Bulletin No. MSB306-
 2001-26-25) at 165            additional mass       36/3, dated
 kilometers/hour (km/h),       balance and           December 4, 2002,
 89.1 knots (kts), or 102.5    determining the       and GROB Luft-und
 miles per hour (mph).         empty weight and      Raumfahrt Service
                               empty weight center   Installation
                               of gravity required   Instructions No.
                               by paragraph (d)(1)   MSB306-36/3, dated
                               of this AD.           April 18, 2002. The
                                                     applicable
                                                     sailplane
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     also addresses this
                                                     issue.
(4) Remove the red placard    Before further        Not Applicable.
 to the airspeed indicator     flight after
 (formerly required by AD      installing the
 2001-26-25) restricting the   additional mass
 Vne airspeed to 165 km/h,     balance and
 89.1 kts. or 102.5 mph        determining the
 (according to the airspeed    empty weight and
 indicator calibration).       empty weight center
                               of gravity required
                               by paragraph (d)(1)
                               of this AD.
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[[Page 31330]]

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 GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: 49 
8268 998139; facsimile: 49 8268 998200. You may view these documents 
at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (h) German AD Numbers 2001-317/4, dated January 9, 2003, and 
2001-317/3, dated November 14, 2002, also address the subject of 
this AD.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 25, 2004.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-12575 Filed 6-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P