[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5956-5958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02608]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0093; Product Identifier 2017-CE-047-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-11-
03 for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders that are equipped 
with a Solo 2625 02 engine modified with a fuel injection system 
following the instructions of Solo Kleinmoteren GmbH Technische 
Mitteilung (TM)/Service Bulletin (SB) 4600-3 ``Fuel Injection System'' 
and identified as Solo 2625 02i. 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 failure of the connecting rod bearing resulting from too 
much load on the rod bearings from the engine control unit. This 
proposed AD adds DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders equipped 
with Solo 2625 02i engines to the applicability. 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 March 29, 2018.

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 
Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; 
telephone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: germany.com">aircraft@solo-germany.com; internet: http://aircraft.solo-online.com. You may review 
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and 
Innovation Division, 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-2018-
0093; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (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 Standards Branch, 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-2018-0093; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-047-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

    We issued AD 2017-11-03, Amendment 39-18902 (82 FR 24015; May 25, 
2017) (``AD 2017-11-03''). That AD required actions intended to address 
an unsafe condition on DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders and 
was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. That 
MCAI is EASA AD No.: 2016-0254, dated December 15, 2016, correction 
dated January 4, 2017 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI'').
    Since we issued AD 2017-11-03, the FAA has now type certificated 
the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M glider and that glider model is 
equipped with a Solo 2625 02i engine. Since this model has the same 
engine, it is subject to the same unsafe condition in AD 2017-11-03.
    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0093.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH has issued Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin) Nr. 4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English 
translation: Issue 1), dated November 16, 2016, approved for 
incorporation by reference on June 29, 2017 (82 FR 24015; May 25, 
2017). The service information describes procedures for a software 
update that provides new settings to the engine control unit (ECU) to 
lower the load on the bearings of the crankshaft. 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 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 6 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.

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    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $1,020, or $170 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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, 
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and 
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation 
Division.

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 removing Amendment 39-18902 (82 FR 
24015; May 25, 2017), and adding the following new AD:

DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2018-0093; Product Identifier 
2017-CE-047-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 29, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2017-11-03, Amendment 39-18902 (82 FR 24015; 
May 25, 2017) (``AD 2017-11-03'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH DG-500MB and DG-1000M 
gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are 
equipped with Solo 2625 02 engines modified with a fuel injection 
system following the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Service 
Bulletin (SB)/Technische Mitteilung (TM) 4600-3 ``Fuel Injection 
System'' and re-identified as Solo 2625 02i, or equipped with a Solo 
2625 02i engine at manufacture, and have engine serial numbers (S/N) 
through 369/207, except engine S/N's 354/194, 356/196, 357/197, 358/
198, 361/201, 362/202, 363/203, 364/204, and 368/206.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 73: Engine fuel 
and control.

(e) Reason

    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. AD 2017-11-03 resulted from failure of the connecting rod 
bearing because of too much load on the rod bearings from the engine 
control unit. This AD results from the need to add an airplane model 
to the applicability. We are issuing this AD to prevent such failure 
that could lead to the potential of an in-flight shut-down and 
engine fire and result in loss of control and to include FAA type 
certificated DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders with Solo 
2625 02i engines.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    (1) For DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders: Unless 
already done, within the next 60 days after June 29, 2017 (the 
effective date of AD 2017-11-03), modify the engine by installing a 
software update for the engine control unit (ECU) following the 
actions in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English 
translation: Issue 1), dated November 16, 2016.
    (2) For DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders: Unless 
already done, within the next 60 days after the effective date of 
this AD, modify the engine by installing a software update for the 
engine control unit (ECU) following the actions in Solo Kleinmotoren 
GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), 
Nr. 4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English translation: Issue 1), dated November 
16, 2016.
    (3) For all gliders: After the modification of an engine as 
required by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, do not install a 
replacement ECU on that engine and do not upload any software update 
to the ECU of that engine unless the ECU software version is as 
specified in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English 
translation: Issue 1), dated November 16, 2016.
    (4) For all gliders: The Note in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH 
Technische Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 
4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English translation: Issue 1), dated November 16, 
2016, stating ``the actions have to be accomplished by a certified 
maintenance organization and must be released to service 
accordingly'' is not applicable to this AD.
    Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD: This service information 
contains German to English translation. The EASA used the English 
translation in referencing the document. For enforceability 
purposes, we will refer to the Solo Kleinmotoren service information 
as it appears on the document.

(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 Standards Branch, 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must

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be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small 
Airplane Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA).

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2016-0254, dated December 15, 2016, correction dated January 4, 
2017, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2018-0093. For service information related to this 
AD, contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, 71050 
Sindelfingen, Germany; telephone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-
136; email: germany.com">aircraft@solo-germany.com; internet: http://aircraft.solo-online.com. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 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 February 5, 2018.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02608 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P