[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48918-48920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16529]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CENTRAIR 101 Series Gliders

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 CENTRAIR 101 Series gliders. This proposed AD would require you 
to make pen and ink changes to the Limitations Section of the glider 
maintenance manual to eliminate contradictory information concerning 
the structural life limit. This proposed AD results from a review by 
FAA of the Limitations Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider 
maintenance manual that revealed conflicting information concerning the 
structural life limit. We are issuing this proposed AD to assure that 
the published life limit is adhered to and to prevent structural 
failure of the glider once this life limit is reached.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by September 
26, 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 CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 Le Blanc, France; 
telephone: 02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 02.54.37.48.64.
    To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. 
This is docket number FAA-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
39-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small 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 the 
docket number, ``FAA-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-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-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
39-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.

[[Page 48919]]

    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 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? A review by FAA of the 
Limitations Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance 
manual revealed conflicting information concerning the structural life 
limit. Page 5.1 of this manual specifies inspection criteria upon 
accumulating 3,000 hours time-in-service (TIS). However, page 5.01 of 
the manual identifies a structural life limit of 3,000-hour TIS. 
CENTRAIR has verified that all the 101 series gliders delivered to the 
United States have a 3,000-hour life limit with no current extension.
    Cumulative fatigue damage and fatigue cracking damage would 
sufficiently reduce residual strength of the airframe and result in 
failure of the airframe.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If this 
situation is not corrected, the published life limit may not be adhered 
to and the structural integrity of the glider could be compromised.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? We have evaluated all pertinent information 
and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop 
on other products of this same type design. For this reason, we are 
proposing AD action.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to, using pen and ink, change Section 5.1 of the Limitations 
Section of the CENTRAIR Gliders CENTRAIR 101--101 P--101 A--101 AP 
Maintenance Manual under ``General Inspection,'' to read, ``The general 
inspection should be executed every 5 years until the 3,000-hour time-
in-service structural life limit is met.''
    The above change enforces the 3,000 hours structural life limit set 
out in page 5.01--Life Limits of the maintenance manual.
    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 gliders would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 51 gliders in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected gliders? We estimate the following costs to 
do this proposed change of the maintenance manual:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Total cost
                  Labor cost                                  Parts cost                 Total cost    on U.S.
                                                                                         per glider   operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work hour x $65 = $65.......................  Not Applicable........................          $65       $3,315
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 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-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD'' in 
your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

[[Page 48920]]

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):

CENTRAIR: Docket No. FAA-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
39-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 September 26, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Gliders Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Models 101, 101A, 101AP, and 101P gliders, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of a review by FAA of the Limitations 
Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance manual that 
revealed conflicting information concerning the structural life 
limit. The actions specified in this AD are intended to assure that 
the published life limit is adhered to and to prevent structural 
failure of the glider once this life limit is reached.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using pen and ink, change     Within the next 30    The owner/operator
 Section 5.1 of the            days after the        holding at least a
 Limitations Section of the    effective date of     private pilot
 CENTRAIR Gliders CENTRAIR     this AD.              certificate as
 101-101 P-101 A-101 AP                              authorized by
 Maintenance Manual under                            section 43.7 of the
 ``General Inspection,'' to                          Federal Aviation
 read, ``The general                                 Regulations (14 CFR
 inspection should be                                43.7) may modify
 executed every 5 years                              the maintenance
 until the 3,000-hour time-                          manual as specified
 in-service structural life                          in paragraph (e) of
 limit is met.'' The above                           this AD. Make an
 change enforces the 3,000-                          entry into the
 hour structural life limit                          aircraft records
 set out in page 5.01--Life                          showing compliance
 Limits of the maintenance                           with this portion
 manual.                                             of the AD following
                                                     section 43.9 of the
                                                     Federal Aviation
                                                     Regulations (14 CFR
                                                     43.9).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Section 5.0 of the Limitations Section of the CENTRAIR Gliders
  CENTRAIR 101-101 P-101 A-101 AP Maintenance Manual, date of approval,
  December 16, 1983, references 14 CFR Section 91.163. The Code of
  Federal Regulations has changed. The correct reference is Section
  91.403.

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) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 Le Blanc, France; 
telephone: 02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 02.54.37.48.64. 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-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-
AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 15, 2005.
Terry L. Chasteen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16529 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
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