[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64437-64439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25891]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1124; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt GmbH 
Sailplanes

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 
Burkhart GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt GmbH Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B 
sailplanes. This proposed 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 corrosion 
and/or cracking of the elevator control rod that could lead to failure 
of the elevator control rod with consequent loss of control. We are 
issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 6, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Grob Aircraft AG, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, 
Germany; phone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; email: 
aircraft.com">productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; Internet: www.grob-aircraft.com/62.html. You may review copies of the referenced service information at 
the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901

[[Page 64438]]

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.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: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

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-2012-1124; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-041-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://regulations.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 EASA 
AD No.: 2012-0181, dated September 7, 2012 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Corroded and cracked elevator control road in the vertical fin 
on a Grob G 109B powered sailplane has been reported.
    The technical investigation revealed that water had soaked into 
the elevator control rod through a control bore hole and resulted in 
corrosion damage and, in case of water freeze between the external 
control rod and the internal mass balance, in crack of the elevator 
control rod in the vertical fin.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
failure of the elevator control rod, possibly resulting in loss of 
control of the sailplane.
    To address this unsafe condition, Grob Aircraft AG published 
Service Bulletin (MSB) 817-64 providing instructions for elevator 
control rod inspection and replacement.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires accomplishment 
of inspections of the elevator control rod in the vertical fin and, 
depending on finding, its replacement with a serviceable part, as 
well as a revision of powered sailplane Aircraft Maintenance Manual 
(AMM).

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Grob Aircraft AG has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB817-64/2, dated 
September 6, 2012. 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.

Costs of Compliance

For Model G109 Sailplanes

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 31 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $5,270, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 1 work-hour and require parts costing $680, for a cost of 
$765 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products 
that may need these actions.

For Model G109B Sailplanes

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 28 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3.5 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $78 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $10,514, or $375.50 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 1 work-hour and require parts costing $738, for a cost of 
$823 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 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative,

[[Page 64439]]

on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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:

Burkhart GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2012-1124; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-041-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 6, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Burkhart GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt GmbH Models 
GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B sailplanes, all serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 corrosion and/or 
cracking of the elevator control rod. We are issuing this proposed 
AD to detect and correct corrosion and/or cracking of the elevator 
control rod, which could lead to failure of the elevator control rod 
with consequent loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    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 60 days after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, and repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 5 years, inspect the 
elevator control rod in the vertical fin for corrosion or cracking 
following the accomplishment instructions in Grob Aircraft AG 
Service Bulletin No. MSB817-64/2, dated September 6, 2012.
    (2) For the purposes of this AD, we define slight corrosion as 
corrosion you can remove with metal wool and that has no visible 
pitting in the base metal. If you cannot remove the corrosion with 
metal wool or if there is visible pitting in the base metal, we 
define it as heavy corrosion.
    (3) If any cracks or heavy corrosion are found during any of the 
inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further 
flight, replace the elevator control rod with an airworthy part 
following the accomplishment instructions in Grob Aircraft AG 
Service Bulletin No. MSB817-64/2, dated September 6, 2012, for your 
applicable sailplane model.
    (4) If only slight or no corrosion of the elevator control rod 
is found during any of the inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) 
of this AD, before further flight, clean the rod surface and apply a 
corrosion inhibitor, as applicable, following the accomplishment 
instructions in Grob Aircraft AG Service Bulletin No. MSB817-64/2, 
dated September 6, 2012.

    Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD: Grob Aircraft AG 
incorporated the repetitive inspections required by this AD into the 
instructions for continued airworthiness of the aircraft maintenance 
manual for the applicable sailplanes.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected]. 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, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, AD 
No.: 2012-0181, dated September 7, 2012; and Grob Aircraft AG 
Service Bulletin No. MSB817-64/2, dated September 6, 2012, for 
related information. For service information related to this AD, 
contact Grob Aircraft AG, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-
Mattsies, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 
998 200; email: aircraft.com">productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; Internet: 
www.grob-aircraft.com/62.html. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 15, 2012.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25891 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P