[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56416-56418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25810; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-49-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; PZL-Bielsko Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' 
Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The proposed AD would require actions 
that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the 
MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 27, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     DOT Docket Web Site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     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.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD 
docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. The streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-
25810; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-49-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because 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 about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the aviation 
authority for the European Union (EU), has issued Emergency 
Airworthiness Directive EAD No: 2006-0243-E (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states that the aircraft manufacturer has identified 
that a discrepancy between the design documentation and the Technical 
Service Manual has been identified. In 1981, a castellated nut with 
cotter pin was introduced to secure the rudder, replacing the self 
locking nut, through PZL Bielsko Bulletin No. BK 06/50 3/81. This 
change has not been introduced to the Technical Service Manual and use 
of a self locking nut, in accordance with the Manual, is still 
possible. This was probably the reason of rudder disconnection during 
flight which occurred recently.
    If not corrected, loss of the nut could result and allow the rudder 
to slip out of its hinges, separate from the glider, and lead to loss 
of control.
    The MCAI requires you to inspect and, if necessary, replace the 
Rudder Attachment parts in accordance with the instruction contained in 
the Allstar PZL Glider Sp. z o.o. Mandatory Bulletin No. BE 058/SZD 50 
3/2006 ``PUCHACZ'', dated August 10, 2006. Concurrently, changes in the 
Technical Service Manual must be introduced in accordance with the 
referenced bulletin. You may obtain further information by examining 
the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    PZL-Bielsko has issued Allstar PZL Glider Sp. z o.o. Mandatory 
Bulletin No.

[[Page 56417]]

BE-058/SZD-50-3/2006 ``PUCHACZ'', dated August 10, 2006. The actions 
described in this service information are intended to correct the 
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
described in a separate paragraph of the proposed AD. These 
requirements, if ultimately adopted, will take precedence over the 
actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 8 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 1.5 work-hours per product to comply with the 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required 
parts would cost about $2 per product. Where the service information 
lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have 
assumed that there will be no charge for these costs. As we do not 
control warranty coverage for affected parties, some parties may incur 
costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $976 or $122 per 
product.

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 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 FAA 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 AD:

PZL-Bielsko: FAA-2006-25810; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-49-AD

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 27, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to PZL-Bielsko Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' 
gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states that the aircraft manufacturer has identified that a 
discrepancy between the design documentation and the Technical 
Service Manual has been identified. In 1981, a castellated nut with 
cotter pin was introduced to secure the rudder, replacing the self 
locking nut, through PZL Biesko Bulletin No. BK 06/50 3/81. This 
change has not been introduced to the Technical Service Manual and 
use of a self locking nut, in accordance with the Manual, is still 
possible. This was probably the reason of rudder disconnection 
during flight which occurred recently. If not corrected, loss of the 
nut could result and allow the rudder to slip out of its hinges, 
separate from the glider, and lead to loss of control.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions except as 
stated in paragraph (f) below: Within 30 days of the effective date 
of this AD or before further flight, whichever occurs later, inspect 
and, if necessary, replace the Rudder Attachment parts in accordance 
with the instruction contained in Allstar PZL Glider Sp. z o.o. 
Mandatory Bulletin No. BE 058/SZD 50 3/2006 ``PUCHACZ'', dated 
August 10, 2006. Concurrently, changes in the Technical Service 
Manual must be introduced in accordance with the referenced 
Bulletin.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Gregory Davison, Glider Program Manager, 
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.
    (2) Return to Airworthiness: For any requirement in this AD to 
obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use 
these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are 
considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design 
Authority (or their delegated

[[Page 56418]]

agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before 
it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (h) This AD is related to EASA EAD No: 2006-0243-E, which 
references Allstar PZL Glider Sp. z o.o. Mandatory Bulletin No. BE-
058/SZD-50-3/2006 ``PUCHACZ'', dated August 10, 2006.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 20, 2006.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-15905 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P