[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 62 (Friday, April 1, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16769-16771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6444]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-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 all GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require you to replace the main landing gear front and rear spherical 
bearings with improved spherical bearings. This proposed AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by 
the airworthiness authority for Germany. We are issuing this proposed 
AD to replace front and rear main landing gear bearings that are 
exposed to high axial loads, which could result in failure of the 
landing gear bearing. This failure could lead to loss of control on 
landing.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by May 3, 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.
     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 20590-001.
     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-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
13-AD.

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

[[Page 16770]]

arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include the docket number, ``FAA-2005-20590; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-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-
2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD. 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 all GROB-WERKE 
(GROB) Model G120A airplanes. The LBA reports an incident of a damaged 
spherical bearing (part number (P/N) S20) installed in the main landing 
gear on one of the affected airplanes. Evidence showed that the bearing 
inner ring was shifted against the outer ring. This indicated that the 
bearing was exposed to high axial loads. Grob has an improved spherical 
bearing (P/N SSRC 20 C2) that can tolerate higher axial loads.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Main landing 
gear front and rear bearings exposed to high axial loads could result 
in failure of the landing gear bearing. This failure could lead to loss 
of control on landing.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? GROB has 
issued Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-054, dated November 22, 2004.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for replacing the front and rear spherical 
bearings with new improved spherical bearings.
    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued German AD Number D-2005-075, dated 
February 9, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in Germany.
    Did the LBA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These GROB 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 Model G120A airplanes of the same type design 
that are registered in the United States, we are proposing AD action to 
replace front and rear main landing gear bearings exposed to high axial 
loads, which could result in failure of the landing gear bearing. This 
failure could lead to loss of control on 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? We estimate the following costs to 
do this proposed replacement of the main landing gear front and rear 
spherical bearings with improved spherical bearings. We have no way of 
determining the number of airplanes that may need this replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Total cost per
             Labor cost                    Parts cost            airplane        Total cost on  U.S. operators
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8 work hours x $65 per hour = $65..  None. GROB will supply            $520   8 x $520 = $4,160.
                                      parts free of charge.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII,

[[Page 16771]]

part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General requirements.'' Under 
that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of 
civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

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 other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) 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-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-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):

GROB-WERKE: Docket No. FAA-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-
CE-13-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 3, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Model G120A airplanes, 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 replace 
front and rear main landing gear bearings that are exposed to high 
axial loads, which could result in failure of the landing gear 
bearing. This failure could lead to loss of control on landing.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Replace the main landing      Within the next     Follow GROB
 gear front and rear spherical     100 hours time-in-  Service Bulletin
 bearings (part number (P/N)       service (TIS)       No. MSB1121-054,
 S20) with improved spherical      after the           dated November
 bearings (P/N SSRC 20 C2).        effective date of   22, 2004.
                                   this AD, unless
                                   already done.
(2) Do not install any main       As of the           Not applicable.
 landing front gear and rear       effective date of
 spherical bearings (P/N S20).     this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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) German AD Number D-2005-075, dated February 9, 2005, also 
addresses 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-2005-20590; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, 2005.
Nancy C. Lane,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6444 Filed 3-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P