[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54757-54759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15329]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD; 
Amendment 39-14765; AD 2006-19-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME S10-
VT Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes. This AD 
requires you to do a one-time inspection of all exhaust bends (each 
cylinder 1 to 4) in the area of the curvature bend near the cylinder 
flange, replace any damaged exhaust pipes found, and recondition the 
heat protection wrapping. This AD results from deformations and cracks 
found at an exhaust bend during maintenance work. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and correct cracks in the exhaust pipes. Damaged exhaust 
pipes could cause exhaust gases to expand into the engine compartment 
and/or carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into the cockpit section.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on October 10, 2006.
    As of October 10, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by October 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 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 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.

[[Page 54758]]

     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 AD, contact 
STEMME AG-Flugplatzstra[beta]e F2, Nr. 7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; 
telephone: +49.33.41/36 12-0; fax: +49.33 41/36 12-30.
    To view the comments to this AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. The 
docket number is FAA-2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Davison, Glider Program 
Manager, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 
(816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for the European Union (EU), recently notified 
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Stemme GmbH & Co. 
KG Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes. The EASA reports that deformations 
and cracks at an exhaust bend were found during maintenance work. The 
defective exhaust bend was found on the thermally topmost loaded front-
left cylinder. The damaged area is located in the curvature bend near 
the cylinder flange. If not corrected, exhaust gases may expand into 
the engine compartment and/or CO may leak into the cockpit section.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075 Am.-
Index: 01.a, dated July 06, 2006. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting the exhaust pipes in the curvature bend near 
the exhaust flange, replacing any damaged pipes found, and 
reconditioning the heat protection wrapping.
    The EASA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
EU AD No.: 2006-0217-E, dated July 17, 2006, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these sailplanes in the EU.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    These Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME V10-VT sailplanes 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 EASA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above. We are issuing this AD 
because we evaluated all the information and determined the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design. This AD requires you to do a one-time 
inspection of all exhaust bends (each cylinder 1 to 4) in the area of 
the curvature bend near the cylinder flange, replace any damaged 
exhaust pipes found, and recondition the heat protection wrapping.
    In preparing this rule, we contacted type clubs and aircraft 
operators to get technical information and information on operational 
and economic impacts. We did not receive any information through these 
contacts. If received, we would have included a discussion of any 
information that may have influenced this action in the rulemaking 
docket.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, 
or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
of those 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 we 
receive concerning this AD.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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.
    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 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is 
located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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,

[[Page 54759]]

the FAA amends 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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2006-19-08 Stemme GmbH & Co. KG: Amendment 39-14765; Docket No. FAA-
2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on October 10, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes, serial 
numbers 11-001 through 11-103, that are certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from deformations and cracks found at an 
exhaust bend during maintenance work. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct cracks in the exhaust pipes. Damaged exhaust 
pipes could cause exhaust gases to expand into the engine 
compartment and/or carbon monoxide to leak into the cockpit section.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect all exhaust       Within the next 10    Follow Stemme GmbH &
 bends (each cylinder 1 to     hours time-in-        Co. KG Service
 4) in the area of the         service after         Bulletin A31-10-075
 curvature bend near the       Octoober 10, 2006.    Am.-Index: 01.a,
 cylinder flange for                                 dated July 06,
 deformations, cracks, and/                          2006, except use a
 or flattening. Use a                                minimum 10X
 minimum 10X magnifier to                            magnifier to aid
 aid the inspection.                                 the inspection.
(2) If any damage             Before further        Follow Stemme GmbH &
 (deformation, cracks, and/    flight after the      Co. KG Service
 or flattening) is found in    inspection required   Bulletin A31-10-075
 the inspection required in    by paragraph (e)(1)   Am.-Index: 01.a,
 paragraph (e)(1) of this      of this AD.           dated July 06,
 AD, replace the damaged                             2006.
 exhaust pipe.
(3) Recondition the heat      Before further        Follow Stemme GmbH &
 protection wrapping.          flight after the      Co. KG Service
                               inspection done in    Bulletin A31-10-075
                               paragraph (e)(1) or   Am.-Index: 01.a,
                               the replacement       dated July 06,
                               done in paragraph     2006.
                               (e)(2) of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: According to the Maintenance Manual an inspection of the 
condition of the exhaust pipes is scheduled for every 100 flight 
hours. It is recommended to pay special attention to this item.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Gregory Davison, 
Glider Project Manager, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; 
fax: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (g) This AD is related to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD No.: 2006-0217-E, Issue date: July 17, 2006, which references 
Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075 Am.-Index: 01.a, 
dated July 06, 2006.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075 
Am.-Index: 01.a, dated July 06, 2006. 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. To 
get a copy of this service information, contact STEMME AG-
Flugplatzstra[beta]e F2, Nr. 7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; 
telephone: +49.33.41/36 12-0; fax: +49.33 41/36 12-30. To review 
copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. 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 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-25689; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2006.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-15329 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
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