[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 23, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14599-14601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5707]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19473; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-35-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Model G120A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain GROB-WERKE Model G120A airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require you to replace the main landing gear (MLG) up-lock hook 
assembly. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent the MLG from 
becoming jammed and not extending, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane during landing.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by May 10, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.

[[Page 14600]]

     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact GROB-WERKE, Burkart Grob e.K., Unternehmenbereich Luft-und 
Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; 
telephone: 011 49 8268 998 105; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998 200.
    To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. 
This is docket number FAA-2004-19473.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
ACE-112, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4146; 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 the 
docket number, ``FAA-2004-19473; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-35-AD'' 
at the beginning of your comments. We will post all comments we 
receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone 
can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
This is docket number FAA-2004-19473. You may review the DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    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.

Docket Information

    Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD 
docket that contains the proposal, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m. (eastern standard time), Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is located on 
the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at 
the street address stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

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 certain GROB-WERKE 
Model G120A airplanes. The LBA reports that the up-lock/main landing 
gear roller combination may become jammed because of contamination 
(i.e., dirt or dust) or minor misalignments of the assembly.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? This condition, 
if not corrected, could cause the MLG to become jammed and to not 
extend, which could result in loss of control of the airplane during 
landing.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? GROB-
WERKE has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-052/2, dated February 14, 
2005.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for:

--Removing the MLG up-lock hook assembly; and
--Installing the new MLG up-lock hook assembly.

    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued German AD Number D-2004-299R1, dated 
November 9, 2004, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in Germany.
    Did the LBA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These GROB-WERKE Model G120A airplanes 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-WERKE Model G120A airplanes of the same type 
design that are registered in the United States, we are proposing AD 
action to prevent the MLG from becoming jammed and not extending, which 
could result in loss of control of the airplane during landing.
    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 airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 6 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? GROB-WERKE will provide warranty 
credit for labor and parts.

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined

[[Page 14601]]

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 FAA-2004-19473; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-35-AD'' in 
your request.
    This proposed rulemaking is promulgated under the authority in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, General requirements. 
Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing minimum 
standards required in the interest of safety for the design of 
aircraft. This proposed regulation is within the scope of that 
authority since it corrects an unsafe condition in the design of the 
aircraft caused by the MLG from becoming jammed and not extending.

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):

GROB-WERKE: Docket No. FAA-2004-19473; Directorate Identifier 2004-
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 10, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category: Model G120A, as of 
serial number 85001.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of a report that the main landing gear 
(MLG) may not extend because of contamination or misalignment of the 
assembly. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent 
the MLG from becoming jammed and not extending, which could result 
in loss of control of the airplane during landing.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Remove MGL lock-up hook   Within 100 hours      Follow GROB-WERKE
 assembly and replace with     time-in-service       Service Bulletin
 the new MLG lock-up hook      after the effective   No. MSB1121-052/2,
 assembly.                     date of this AD,      dated February 14,
                               unless GROB-WERKE     2005.
                               Service Bulletin
                               No. MSB1121-052,
                               dated September 15,
                               2004, is already
                               incorporated.
(2) Inspect the MLG for       Prior to further      Follow GROB-WERKE
 proper operation and adjust   flight after the      Service Bulletin
 as needed.                    installation of the   No. MSB1121-052/2,
                               new MLG lock-up       dated February 14,
                               hook assembly.        2005.
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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 Karl Schletzbaum, 
Aerospace Engineer, ACE-112, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4146; 
facsimile: 816-329-4090.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (g) Luftfahrt-Bundesamt Airworthiness Directive No.D-2004-299R1, 
dated November 9, 2004; GROB-WERKE Service Bulletin No. 1121-052/2, 
dated February 14, 2005; and GROB-WERKE Service Bulletin No. 1121-
052, dated September 15, 2004, also address the subject of this AD.

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

    (h) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact GROB-WERKE, Burkart Grob e.K., Unternehmenbereich Luft-und 
Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, 
Germany; telephone: 011 49 8268 998 105; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998 
200. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. This is docket number FAA-2004-19473.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 17, 2005.
Sandra J. Campbell,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5707 Filed 3-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P