[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47871-47874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19323]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3300; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-024-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & 
Co. KG 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 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG Model G103 TWIN ASTIR, 
G103 TWIN II, and G103A TWIN II ACRO gliders. 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 a broken bell-crank installed in the air brake control 
system. 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 September 24, 
2015.

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 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co.KG, Steige 3, D-88487 
Walpertshofen, Germany; phone: ++49

[[Page 47872]]

(0) 7353/22 43; fax: ++49 (0) 7353/30 96; email: Lindner.com">info@LTB-Lindner.com; 
internet: http://www.ltb-lindner.com/. You may review this 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3300; 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-2015-3300; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-024-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.: 2015-0116, dated June 24, 2015 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    A report was received concerning a broken bell-crank, installed 
in the air brake control circuit approximately 1.4 m outside the 
wing root rib of a GROB G 103 Twin II sailplane. Preliminary 
investigation results revealed additional cases of cracks on the 
same part, installed in the air brake control systems of the early 
Twin II type design.
    The same bell-cranks are also installed at the same location in 
the control systems of other models belonging to the same type 
design (see list of affected models under Applicability).
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
failure of the air brake system, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the sailplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Fiberglas-Technik 
issued Technische Mitteilung (TM)/Service Bulletin (SB) TM-G08/SB-
G08 (one document) and Anweisung (A)/Instructions (I) A/I-G08 (one 
document) to provide instructions for a check of the air brake 
locking forces, the inspection of the bell-crank and, if cracks are 
found, replacement of the bell-crank.
    Additionally, TM-G07/SB-G07 (one document) and A/I-G07 (one 
document) provide instructions for the installation of inspection 
openings in the wing of GROB G 103 TWIN II and G 103 A TWIN II ACRO 
sailplanes to facilitate the inspection of the bell-crank. (For the 
TWIN ASTIR and TWIN ASTIR TRAINER sailplanes, such an opening is 
required by LBA AD 92-190/2 (GROB SB 315- 45/2.) This installation 
is optional for sailplanes not exceeding the original intended life 
limit.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires a check of the 
air brake locking forces, an inspection for cracks in the air brake 
control unit and, if cracks are found, replacement of the affected 
flight control system parts. This AD is a temporary measure and 
further AD action may follow.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3300.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG has issued 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin), (TM-G08)/(SB-G08), Ausgabe (English 
translation: Edition) April 24, 2015; and Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf 
Lindner Anweisung (English translation: Instructions), (A/I-G08), 
Ausgabe (English translation: Edition) April 24, 2015. The service 
information describes procedures for inspecting the air brake locking 
forces; inspecting the bell-crank; and, if cracks are found during the 
inspections, replacing the bell-crank. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. The design approval holder is 
working toward a terminating action for the inspections. We may take 
further AD action in the future.

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

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 106 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 $18,020, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
be as follows:
     Replacement of bell-crank would take about 5 work-hours 
per product. Required parts would cost about $566 for a total of $991 
per product.
     Installation of optional inspection openings would take 
about 15 work-hours per product. Required parts would cost about $1,004 
for a total of $2,279 per product.
    We have no way of determining the number of products that may need 
these actions.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 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 control 
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in 
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for 
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and

[[Page 47873]]

reviewing the collection of information. Therefore, all reporting 
associated with this AD is 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.

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, 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

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:

Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG: Docket No. FAA-2015-
3300; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-024-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 24, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. 
KG Model G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, and G103A TWIN II ACRO 
gliders, all manufacturer 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 a broken bell-
crank installed in the air brake control system. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and correct a broken bell-crank which could lead to 
failure of the air brake system, possibly resulting in reduced 
control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD and 
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, 
inspect the locking forces of the air brake control unit, and, if 
any discrepancy is found, before further flight, correct the locking 
forces. Do the inspection and correction of any discrepancy 
following the instructions of Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner 
Technische Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), (TM-
G08)/(SB-G08), Ausgabe (English translation: Edition) April 24, 
2015; and Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Anweisung (English 
translation: Instructions), (A/I-G08), Ausgabe (English translation: 
Edition) April 24, 2015.

    Note 1 to paragraph (f)(1) of this AD:  This service information 
contains German to English translation. The European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) used the English translation in referencing the 
document. For enforceability purposes, we will refer to the 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner service information as it appears 
on the document.

    (2) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
the bell-crank installed in the air brake control system, and, if 
any cracks are found, before further flight, replace the bell-crank 
with a serviceable part. Do the inspection and replacement following 
the instructions of Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Technische 
Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), (TM-G08)/(SB-
G08), Ausgabe (English translation: Edition) April 24, 2015; and 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Anweisung (English translation: 
Instructions), (A/I-G08), Ausgabe (English translation: Edition) 
April 24, 2015.

    Note 2 to paragraph (f)(1) of this AD:  In the lower wing 
surface inspection, openings near the bell-crank may be installed to 
simplify the inspection and make a possible replacement of the bell-
crank possible. This optional installation is described in GROB Luft 
Und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin 315-45/2, dated December 21, 1995; 
and Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin), (TM-G07)/(SB-G07), Ausgabe (English 
translation: Edition) April 24, 2015.

    (3) Within 30 days after replacing a bell-crank as required by 
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, report the inspection results of the 
removed bell-crank to Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. 
KG. You may find contact information for Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf 
Lindner GmbH & Co. KG in paragraph (h) of this AD.

(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

[[Page 47874]]

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 MCAI EASA AD No.: 2015-0116, dated June 24, 2015; GROB 
Luft Und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin 315-45/2, dated December 21, 
1995; and Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner Technische Mitteilung 
(English translation: Service Bulletin), (TM-G07)/(SB-G07), Ausgabe 
(English translation: Edition) April 24, 2015, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2015-3300. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG, Steige 3, D-88487 
Walpertshofen, Germany; phone: ++49 (0) 7353/22 43; fax: ++49 (0) 
7353/30 96; email: Lindner.com">info@LTB-Lindner.com; internet: http://www.ltb-lindner.com/. You may review this 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 July 31, 2015.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19323 Filed 8-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P