[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64692-64695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24818]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-65-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
800B Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Reopening of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) that applies to all Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (DG 
Flugzeugbau) Model DG-800B sailplanes equipped with a SOLO 2625 engine 
or a Mid-West AE 50T engine. The earlier NPRM would have required you 
to modify the coolant pump and fuel pump electrical circuits, replace 
the non-resettable circuit breaker with a resettable circuit breaker, 
and (for a version of the Mikuni carburetor) secure the choke butterfly 
valve axis. The earlier NPRM resulted from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. This proposed AD is the result of further analysis by FAA 
of the service information and FAA determining that important actions 
were omitted in the NPRM and should be incorporated. Since these 
required actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the 
NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the 
chance to comment on these additional actions.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by December 13, 
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-65-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-65-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 DG Flugzeugbau, Postbox 41 20, D-76625 Bruchsal, Federal Republic 
of Germany; telephone: 011-49 7257-890; facsimile: 011-49 7257-8922.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-65-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-65-AD'' in the subject

[[Page 64693]]

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 DG Flugzeugbau Model 
DG-800B sailplanes. The LBA reports both electrical circuits of the 
fuel pump and the coolant pump (on a SOLO 2625 engine or a Mid-West AE 
50T engine) are protected by a non-resettable digital engine indicator 
(DEI) circuit breaker. The pumps will stop running if the non-
resettable circuit breaker activates.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If a non-
resettable circuit breaker trips, this could result in power loss with 
the inability to restart the fuel pump during a critical phase of 
flight (for example, takeoff under own power).
    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 all DG Flugzeugbau Model DG-800B 
sailplanes equipped with a SOLO 2625 engine or a Mid-West AE 50T 
engine. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 12, 2004 (69 FR 19135). The NPRM 
proposed to require you to:

--Modify the coolant pump and fuel pump electrical circuits;
--Replace the non-resettable circuit breaker with a resettable circuit 
breaker, and
-- Secure the choke butterfly valve axis (for a version of the Mikuni 
carburetor).

    Was the public invited to comment? The FAA encouraged interested 
persons to participate in developing this amendment. We did not receive 
any comments on the proposed rule or on our determination of the cost 
to the public.
    What events have caused FAA to issue a supplemental NPRM? The FAA 
has done further analysis of the service information and determined 
that important actions were omitted in the NPRM. The omitted actions 
include installing edge protection at the sharp edges of the circuit 
breaker and making revisions to the flight manual.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? After examining the circumstances and 
reviewing all available information related to the incidents described 
above, we have determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (DG Flugzeugbau) Model 
DG-800B sailplanes equipped with a SOLO 2625 engine or a Mid-West AE 
50T engine of the same type design that are on the U.S. registry;
--We should change the NPRM to include the omitted actions; and
--We should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.

The Supplemental NPRM

    How will the changes to the NPRM impact the public? Proposing the 
additional actions that you install edge protection at the sharp edges 
of the circuit breaker and revise the flight manual goes beyond the 
scope of what was originally proposed in the NPRM. Therefore, we are 
reopening the comment period and allowing the public the chance to 
comment on these additional actions.
    What are the provisions of the supplemental NPRM? The proposed AD 
would require you to:

--Modify the coolant pump and fuel pump electrical circuits;
--Remove the non-resettable digital engine indicator (DEI) circuit 
breaker (4-ampere) and replace with a resettable 5-ampere circuit 
breaker;
--Secure the choke butterfly valve axis that is on the SOLO 2625 engine 
(New version Mikuni carburetor);
--Install edge protection at the sharp edges of the resettable 5-ampere 
DEI circuit breaker; and
--Incorporate ``Flight Manual'' changes that are listed in the service 
information.

    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 25 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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       sailplane         Total cost on U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 workhours at $65 per hour = $390......           $100            $490   25 x $490 = $12,250
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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

[[Page 64694]]

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-65-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):

Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. 2003-CE-65-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 December 13, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects all Model DG-800B sailplanes, all serial 
numbers, that are:
    (1) Certificated in any category; and
    (2) Equipped with a SOLO 2625 engine or a Mid-West AE 50T 
engine.

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 
electrical failure of the fuel and coolant pumps if a non-resettable 
circuit breaker trips. This could result in power loss with the 
inability to restart the fuel pump during a critical phase of flight 
(for example, takeoff under own power).

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Modify the coolant pump and   Within the next 50  For sailplanes
 fuel pump electrical circuits.    hours time-in-      with a SOLO 2625
                                   service (TIS)       engine: Follow DG
                                   after the           Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                   effective date of   Technical Note
                                   this AD, unless     No. 873/26, dated
                                   already done.       November 12,
                                                       2001; For
                                                       sailplanes with a
                                                       Mid-West AE 50T
                                                       engine: Follow DG
                                                       Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                                       Technical Note
                                                       No. 873/27, dated
                                                       November 29,
                                                       2001.
(2) Remove the non-resettable     Before further      For sailplanes
 digital engine indicator (DEI)    flight after the    with a SOLO 2625
 circuit breaker (4-ampere)        modification of     engine: Follow DG
 replace with a resettable 5-      the coolant pump    Flugzeugbau GmbH
 ampere circuit breaker.           and fuel pump and   Technical Note
                                   electrical          No. 873/26, dated
                                   circuits required   November 12,
                                   by paragraph        2001; For
                                   (e)(1) of this AD.  sailplanes with a
                                                       Mid-West AE 50T
                                                       engine: Follow DG
                                                       Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                                       Technical Note
                                                       No. 873/27, dated
                                                       November 29,
                                                       2001.
(3) For sailplanes with engine    Before further      For sailplanes
 SOLO 2625 (New version Mikuni     flight after the    with a SOLO 2625
 carburetor): Secure the choke     modification of     engine: Follow DG
 butterfly valve axis.             the coolant pump    Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                   and fuel pump       Technical Note
                                   electrical          No. 873/26, dated
                                   circuits required   November 12,
                                   by paragraph.       2001.
                                   (e)(1) of this AD
                                   and the removal
                                   and replacement
                                   required by
                                   paragraph (e)(2)
                                   of this AD.
(4) Install edge protection at    Before further      For sailplanes
 the sharp edges of the            flight after the    with a SOLO 2625
 resettable 5-ampere DEI circuit   modification of     engine: Follow DG
 breaker.                          the coolant pump    Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                   and fuel pump       Technical Note
                                   electrical          No. 873/26, dated
                                   circuits required   November 12,
                                   by paragraph        2001; For
                                   (e)(1) of this AD   sailplanes with a
                                   and the removal     Mid-West AE 50T
                                   and replacement     engine: Follow DG
                                   required by         Flugzeugbau GmbH
                                   paragraph (e)(2)    Technical Note
                                   of this AD.         No. 873/27, dated
                                                       November 29,
                                                       2001.
(5) Incorporate changes in the    Before further      For sailplanes
 FAA-approved sailplane flight     flight after the    with a SOLO 2625
 manual (SFM).                     modifications       engine: Follow DG
(i) The owner/operator holding     required by         Flugzeugbau GmbH
 at least a private pilot          paragraphs          Technical Note
 certificate as authorized by      (e)(1), (e)(2),     No. 873/26, dated
 section 43.7 of the Federal       (e)(3), and         November 12,
 Aviation Regulations (14 CFR      (e)(4) of this AD.  2001; For
 43.7) may do the flight manual                        sailplanes with a
 changes requirement of this AD..                      Mid-West AE 50T
(ii) Make an entry in the                              engine: Follow DG
 aircraft records showing                              Flugzeugbau GmbH
 compliance with this portion of                       Technical Note
 the AD following section 43.9                         No. 873/27, dated
 of the Federal Aviation                               November 29,
 Regulations (14 CFR 43.9)..                           2001.
(6) Do not install any SOLO 2625  As of the           Not Applicable.
 engine or Mid-West AE 50T         effective date of
 engine unless the modifications   this AD.
 required by paragraphs (e)(1),
 (e)(2), (e)(3), and (e)(4) of
 this AD have been done.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 64695]]

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 DG Flugzeugbau, Postbox 41 20, D-76625 Bruchsal, Federal 
Republic of Germany; telephone: 011-49 7257-890; facsimile: 011-49 
7257-8922. 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 2002-083, dated April 4, 2002, also 
addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 2, 2004.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24818 Filed 11-5-04; 8:45 am]
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