[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19185-19186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07936]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0019; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-038-AD; 
Amendment 39-18861; AD 2017-08-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GROB Aircraft AG Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GROB 
Aircraft AG Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B gliders. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 broken pivots of the tail wheel mounting bracket resulting 
from corrosion and damage due to wear. We are issuing this AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 31, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of May 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0019; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact GROB 
Aircraft AG, Product Support, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, telephone: + 49 (0) 8268-998-105; fax: 
+ 49 (0) 8268-998-200; email: aircraft.com">productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; 
Internet: grob-aircraft.com. You may view 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. It is also available on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-
2017-0019.

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: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to GROB Aircraft AG Models 
GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B gliders. The NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5456). The NPRM proposed to 
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an 
aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences were reported of broken pivots of the tail wheel 
mounting bracket. Subsequent investigation attributed these events 
to corrosion and damage due to wear.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
loss of rudder control, resulting in reduced control of the powered 
sailplane.
    To address this potentially unsafe condition, Grob Aircraft AG 
issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 817-70 (hereafter referred 
to as `the MSB' in this [EASA] AD) to provide inspection and repair 
instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the tail wheel mounting bracket and, 
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective 
action(s).

    The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0019-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GROB Aircraft AG Service Bulletin No. MSB817-70, dated 
September 28, 2016, which describes procedures for inspection of the 
tail mounting bracket; and GROB Aircraft AG Repair Instruction RI 817-
015, dated September 16, 2016, which provides instructions for any 
necessary repair. 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 57 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $50 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $17,385, or $305 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 5 work-hours and require parts costing $100, for a cost of 
$525 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

[[Page 19186]]

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 this AD:
    (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.

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-
0019; 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 the NPRM, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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:

2017-08-12 GROB Aircraft AG: Amendment 39-18861; Docket No. FAA-
2017-0019; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-038-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 31, 
2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GROB Aircraft AG Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 
109B gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

(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 broken pivots of 
the tail wheel mounting bracket resulting from corrosion and damage 
due to wear. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct if 
necessary any corrosion or damage to the tail wheel mounting 
bracket, which could cause loss of rudder control and result in 
reduced control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within the next 3 months after May 31, 2017 (the effective 
date of this AD) or 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after May 31, 
2017 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and 
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours 
TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, inspect the tail wheel 
mounting bracket following the Accomplishment Instructions in 
section 1.8 of GROB Aircraft AG Service Bulletin (SB) No. MSB817-70, 
dated September 28, 2016.
    (2) If any damage is found during any inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, repair following 
GROB Aircraft AG Repair Instruction RI 817-015, dated September 16, 
2016.
    Note 1 to paragraph (f)(2) of this AD: The bolt in Figure 1, 
Pos. 10 of GROB Aircraft AG Repair Instruction RI 817-015, dated 
September 16, 2016, is welded into place onto the steel base plate. 
Therefore, in order to facilitate the removal of the bolt, the 
welding seams may be carefully ground off using caution to not 
damage the steel base plate, instead of completely cutting off the 
bolt head.
    (3) Repairs made as required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD do 
not qualify as terminating action for the repetitive inspections 
required in paragraph (f)(1) 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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2016-0228, dated November 14, 2016, for related information. The 
MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0019-0002.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) GROB Aircraft AG Service Bulletin (SB) No. MSB817-70, dated 
September 28, 2016.
    (ii) GROB Aircraft AG Repair Instruction RI 817-015, dated 
September 16, 2016.
    (3) For GROB Aircraft AG service information identified in this 
AD, contact GROB Aircraft AG, Product Support, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 
D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, telephone: + 49 (0) 8268-
998-105; fax: + 49 (0) 8268-998-200; email: aircraft.com">productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; Internet: grob-aircraft.com.
    (4) 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. In addition, you can access this service 
information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0019.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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 April 13, 2017.
Brian Yanez,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07936 Filed 4-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P