[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 76 (Friday, April 21, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18722-18724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07937]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0343; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-005-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 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 all 
DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-400, DG-500M, DG-500MB, DG-800A, and DG-
800B 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 
manufacturing defect in certain textile fabric covered fuel hoses, 
which could cause the fuel hose to fail. 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 June 5, 2017.

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 DG 
Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal Weg 2, D-76646 Bruchsal, Germany; 
telephone: +49 (0)7251 3202-0; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/en/?noredirect=en_US. 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-2017-
0343; 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

[[Page 18723]]

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-2017-0343; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-005-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 AD 
No.: 2016-0259, dated December 21, 2016 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    During service and annual inspection, DG found that some fuel 
hoses with textile fabric covering, installed from the beginning of 
the year 2015, had become weak or untight with time. The suspected 
root cause for this premature degradation is a manufacturing defect 
of a certain batch of fuel hoses.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to 
kinking of the fuel hoses, possibly resulting in a reduced fuel 
supply and consequent partial or total loss of available power.
    To address this unsafe condition, DG-Flugzeugbau published 
Technical Note TN 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-02 providing inspection and 
replacement instructions.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires inspection and 
replacement of the affected fuel hoses.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0343.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    DG Flugzeugbau GmbH has issued Technical note No. 800-44, 500-10, 
DG-SS-02, are all dated November 9, 2016, and co-published as one 
document. The service information describes procedures for inspecting 
and replacing the fuel hoses. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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 59 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with each inspection required by this proposed AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the inspection cost of this 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $10,030, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that each replacement action required by 
this proposed AD would take about 8 work-hours and require parts 
costing $500. Based on these figures, we estimate the replacement cost 
of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $69,620, or $1,180 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),
    (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:

DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2017-0343; Directorate 
Identifier 2017-CE-005-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 5, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to certain DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-400, 
DG-500M, DG-

[[Page 18724]]

500MB, DG-800A, and DG-800B gliders, all serial numbers, that:
    (1) Have textile fabric covered fuel hoses installed in the 
fuselage; and
    (2) are certificated in any category.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: Metal fabric covered fuel 
hoses installed in the engine area are not affected by this AD.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 28: Fuel.

(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 manufacturing 
defect in certain textile fabric covered fuel hoses, which could 
cause the fuel hose to fail. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the fuel hose, which could cause reduced fuel supply and 
result in partial or total loss of power.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect all textile fabric covered fuel hoses located in the 
fuselage following Instructions 1. of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical 
note (TN) No. 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-02, dated November 9, 2016.

    Note 2 to paragraph (f)(1) through (6) of this AD: DG 
Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical note (TN) No. 800-44, DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 
Technical note (TN) No. 500-10, and DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical 
note (TN) No. DG-SS-02 are all dated November 9, 2016, and co-
published as one document.

    (2) If any kinking or wet fabric covering is found during the 
inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, within the next 
14 days after the inspection, replace all textile fabric covered 
fuel hoses located in the fuselage following Instructions 2. of DG 
Flugzeugbau GmbH TN No. 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-02, dated November 9, 
2016.
    (3) If no kinking or wet fabric covering is found during the 
inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, within the next 
12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace all textile 
fabric covered fuel hoses located in the fuselage following 
Instructions 2. of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH TN No. 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-
02, dated November 9, 2016.
    (4) Within 12 months after doing the replacements required in 
paragraph (f)(2) or (f)(3) of this AD, as applicable, and 
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, 
inspect all fuel hoses in the fuselage for any signs of wear, 
fissures, kinks, lack of tight fit, or leaks. For this inspection, 
the ignition switch must be turned on to run the electric fuel pump 
to demonstrate an operating fuel pressure, as specified in 
Instructions 4. of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH TN No. 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-
02, dated November 9, 2016.
    (5) If any signs of wear, fissures, kinks, lack of tight fit, or 
leaks are found during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(4) 
of this AD, replace the defective fuel hose in the fuselage 
following Instructions 2. of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH TN No. 800-44, 500-
10, DG-SS-02, dated November 9, 2016. Continue with the repetitive 
inspections as specified in paragraph (f)(4) of this AD.
    (6) If no signs of wear, fissures, kinks, lack of tight fit, or 
leaks are found during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(4) 
of this AD, at intervals not to exceed 10 years, replace the fuel 
hoses in the fuselage with new fuel hoses following Instructions 2. 
of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH TN No. 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-02, dated 
November 9, 2016.

(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 glider 
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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2016-0259, dated December 21, 2016, for related information. You may 
examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0343. For service 
information related to this AD, contact DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-
Lilienthal Weg 2, D-76646 Bruchsal, Germany; telephone: +49 (0)7251 
3202-0; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/en/?noredirect=en_US. 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 April 13, 2017.
Brian Yanez,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07937 Filed 4-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P