[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76576-76578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21749]



[[Page 76576]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[FAA-2006-26557; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-85-AD; Amendment 39-
14860; AD 2006-26-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model S10, S10-V, 
and S10-VT Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

a leaking brass fuel connection (part no. 10AB-75) was found during 
maintenance check.

    This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 10, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Stemme F&D Service Bulletin Document Number A31-10-077, 
Am.-Index: 01.a, dated October 6, 2006, listed in this AD as of January 
10, 2007.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 22, 2007.

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 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: Greg Davison, Glider Program Manager, 
Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 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.
    This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No.: 2006-0310-E, dated October 11, 2006 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    A leaking brass fuel connection (part no. 10AB-75) was found 
during maintenance check.
    This brass fuel connection was for the first time introduced 
with the SB A31-10-061, ``Additional Measures--Fire Protection S10-
VT'' and with the SB A31-10-063, ``Additional Measures--Fire 
Protection for S10 and S10-V'' (US mandatory). These brass 
connections were used later in serial production as spare parts.
    The leaking brass connector was in accordance with design 
modification index 01.a. It was installed starting February 2002 
until April 2002. A modified version of the hose connector was 
introduced in April 2002 after the old version resulted to be 
susceptible to improper assembly and maintenance. The modified 
version has design modification index 02.a and its installation has 
been proved to avoid any possible leakage.

    The MCAI requires inspections on both sides of the fuel connection 
between the wing and the fuselage to identify any installed brass hose 
connector having design modification index 01.a and replacing those 
connectors with the modified version of connectors having design 
modification index 02.a. You may obtain further information by 
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Stemme GmbH & Co. KG has issued Stemme F&D Service Bulletin A31-10-
077 Am.-Index: 01.a, dated October 6, 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 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 issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and 
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This 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 have also required 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 AD. These requirements take 
precedence over those copied from the MCAI.

[[Page 76577]]

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because a 
leaking brass fuel connection (part no. 10AB-75) was found during 
maintenance check. Therefore, 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 opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-26557; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-85-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this 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 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.

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, 
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 AD:

2006-26-02 Stemme GmbH & Co. KG: Amendment 39-14860; Docket No. FAA-
2006-26557; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-85-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 
10, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following model and serial number 
gliders, certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Models                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S10...............................  10-03 through 10-56.
S10-V.............................  14-001 through 14-030 and all
                                     converted variants 14-003M through
                                     14-056M.
S10-VT............................  11-001 through 11-100.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    A leaking brass fuel connection (part no. 10AB-75) was found 
during maintenance check.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Prior to further flight as of January 10, 2007 (the 
effective date of this AD), unless already done, do the following 
actions.
    (1) Inspect both sides of the connection between the wing and 
the fuselage to identify any installed brass hose connector having 
design modification index 01.a.
    (2) Replace connectors identified as design modification index 
01.a with the modified version of connectors having design 
modification index 02.a.
    (3) Do the actions required in this AD in accordance with the 
requirements of Stemme F&D Service Bulletin A31-10-077 Am.-Index: 
01.a, dated October 6, 2006.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (f) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Staff, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ATTN: Greg 
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) Airworthy Product: 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 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 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2006-0310-E, dated October 11, 2006, and Stemme F&D Service Bulletin 
A31-10-077 Am.-Index: 01.a, dated October 6, 2006, for related 
information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Stemme F&D Service Bulletin A31-10-077 Am.-
Index: 01.a, dated October 6, 2006, to do the actions required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

[[Page 76578]]

    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
STEMME GmbH & Co. KG, Flugplatzstra[beta]e F2, Nr. 7, D-15344 
Strausberg, Germany; telephone: + 49.33 41/36 12-0; fax: +49.33 41/
36 12-30; e-mail: [email protected].
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on December 14, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-21749 Filed 12-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P