[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53493-53495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18443]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28670; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-060-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG Models G102 
CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III 
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

[[Page 53494]]

AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and 
correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes 
the unsafe condition as:

    GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on 
welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model 
CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress 
slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result 
in rupture at a matured stage.

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 19, 
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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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) 647-5527) 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, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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-2007-
28670; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-060-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 Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued 
Emergency AD No.: 2007-0135-E, dated May 14, 2007 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on 
welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model 
CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress 
slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result 
in rupture at a matured stage.

    The MCAI requires all welded parts to be inspected and replaced if 
any cracks are found.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD.

Relevant Service Information

    Grob Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated 
April 27, 2007. 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 
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 35 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per 
work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $2,800, or $80 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 5 work-hours and require parts costing $5,058, for a cost of 
$5,458 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.

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

[[Page 53495]]

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:

Grob-Werke Gmbh & Co Kg: Docket No. FAA-2007-28670; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-CE-060-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 19, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the gliders Model G102 CLUB ASTIR III, 
serial numbers (SNs) 5501 (suffix C) through 5652 (suffix C); Model 
G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, SNs 5501 (suffix Cb) through 5652 (suffix Cb); 
and Model G102 STANDARD ASTIR III, SNs 5501 (suffix S) through 5652 
(suffix S), that are certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:

    GROB received isolated difficulty reports regarding cracks on 
welded parts of the flight control system of the type G102, model 
CLUB ASTIR III & IIIb, and STANDARD ASTIR III. The cracks progress 
slowly from the welding seams periphery, and may eventually result 
in rupture at a matured stage.

    The MCAI requires all welded parts to be inspected and replaced 
if any cracks are found.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 6 calendar months after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the 
welded parts of the flight control system for any cracks, 
deformations, or distortions following Grob Aerospace Service 
Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007. Thereafter, 
repetitively inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar months.
    (2) If you find any cracks, deformations, or distortions as a 
result of any inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, 
before further flight, replace the affected part following Grob 
Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007.

FAA AD Differences

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

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Greg Davison, Glider Program Manager, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.
    (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

    (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Emergency AD No.: 2007-0135-E, dated May 14, 2007, and Grob 
Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 306-35, dated April 27, 2007, for 
related information.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 13, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18443 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P