[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55321-55323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20310]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2004-CE-06-AD; Amendment 39-13790; AD 2004-18-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Model DG-500MB 
Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB sailplanes. This AD requires you to 
replace the engine pylon extension/retraction Warner LA10 spindle drive

[[Page 55322]]

with an improved designed Stross BSA 10 spindle drive and to modify the 
electrical system following applicable service information. This AD is 
the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the Warner LA10 spindle drive, which could 
result in failure of the engine pylon extension/retraction mechanism. 
This condition could cause an unstable engine pylon assembly during 
flight with loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on October 22, 2004.
    As of October 22, 2004, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD 
from DG Flugzeugbau, Postbox 41 20, 76625 Bruchsal, Germany; telephone: 
49 7257 890; facsimile: 49 7257 8922.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004-CE-06-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 Davison, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4130; facsimile: 816-329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), 
which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently notified FAA 
that an unsafe condition may exist on certain DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model 
DG-500MB sailplanes, all serial numbers up to and including 5E220B15. 
The LBA reports two separate fatigue failures of the Warner LA10 
spindle drive.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Failure of the 
Warner LA10 spindle drive could result in the engine pylon not rising 
or lowering, which could cause an unstable engine pylon assembly during 
flight. Failure of the engine pylon assembly during flight could result 
in loss of control of the sailplane.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to 
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 
include an AD that would apply to certain DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
500MB sailplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register 
as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on May 20, 2004 (69 FR 
29106). The NPRM proposed to require you to replace the Warner LA10 
spindle drive with the Stross BSA 10 spindle drive and to modify the 
electrical system following Technical Note No. 843/18, issue 2, dated 
June 25, 2003.

Comments

    Was the public invited to comment? We provided the public the 
opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no 
comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the 
public.

Conclusion

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? We have carefully 
reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor 
editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:

--Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for 
correcting the unsafe condition; and
--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 
2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, 
July 22, 2002), which governs the 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 does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 4 sailplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected sailplanes? We estimate the following costs to accomplish the 
replacement and modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost       sailplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 work hours est. $65 per hour = $780.......................          $2,662           $3,442          $13,768
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    Will this AD impact various entities? We have determined that this 
AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. 
This AD will 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.
    Will this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? For 
the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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 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-06-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under 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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

[[Page 55323]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2004-18-12 DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: Amendment 39-13790; Docket No. 2004-
CE-06-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on October 22, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following sailplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category: DG Flugzeugbau Model 
DG-500MB, all serial numbers up to and including 5E220B15.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of Warner LA10 spindle drive failure. 
The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of 
the Warner LA10 spindle drive, which could result in failure of the 
engine pylon extension/retraction mechanism. This condition could 
cause an unstable engine pylon assembly during flight with 
consequent 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the Warner LA10       Replace and modify    Follow the
 spindle drive with the        within 25 hours       instructions in DG
 Stross BSA 10 spindle drive   time-in-service       Flugzeugbau GmbH
 and make any necessary        (TIS) after October   Technical Note No.
 electrical modifications      22, 2004 (the         843/18 June 25,
 including installation of     effective date of     2003.
 the voltage converter for     this AD).
 the brake of the spindle
 drive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Davison, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, Room 
301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-
4130; facsimile: 816-329-4090.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

    (g) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note No. 843/18 issue 
2, dated June 25, 2003. The Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get a 
copy from DG Flugzeugbau, Postbox 41 20, 76625 Bruchsal, Germany. 
You may review copies at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (h) LBA airworthiness directive 2003-409, dated December 9, 
2003, and Technical Note No. 843/18, issue 2, dated June 25, 2003, 
also address the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 31, 2004.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20310 Filed 9-13-04; 8:45 am]
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