[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 193 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56225-56227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21934]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Stemme AG Model Stemme S 12 gliders. This proposed AD was 
prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and 
correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes 
the unsafe condition as the incorrect installation of an axle 
connecting the main landing gear (MLG) to the center steel frame. This 
proposed AD would require inspecting the MLG installation. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 
22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact STEMME AG, 
Flugplatzstrasse F2, Nr. 6-7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; phone: + 49 
(0) 3341 3612-0, fax: + 49 (0) 3341 3612-30; email: 
[email protected]; website: https://www.stemme.com. You may view 
this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; 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 NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; 
phone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 
2019-CE-032-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim 
Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2019-0130-E, dated June 7, 2019 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on Stemme AG Model Stemme 
S 12 gliders. The MCAI states:

    Following a production acceptance flight, the pilot noticed that 
the aeroplane was in a banked position on the ground. Further 
examination determined that an axle, connecting the main landing 
gear (MLG) leg to the centre steel frame of the aeroplane, had

[[Page 56226]]

been installed incorrectly. Other S12 aeroplanes may also be 
affected by this installation error.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
damage to the aeroplane, possibly resulting in injury to occupants.
    To address this unsafe condition, Stemme issued the SB [service 
bulletin] to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection of the MLG installation and, depending on findings, 
the accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0842.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Stemme Service Bulletin No. P062-980037, Revision 
00, dated June 5, 2019 (SB P062-980037). The service information 
specifies inspecting and repairing, if necessary, the MLG leg 
connection to the center steel frame. 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 
ADDRESSES.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require inspecting the MLG installation and, 
depending on the findings, further inspection of the components, 
surrounding structure, and systems for damage and repair.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    SB P062-980037 allows the pilot/owner to perform the initial 
inspection for correct installation, and this proposed AD would not. SB 
P062-980037 specifies contacting Stemme AG for certain repair 
instructions, while this proposed AD would require repair using a 
method approved by the FAA or EASA.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 11 gliders of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that it would 
take 0.5 work hour per glider to inspect the MLG installation. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
FAA estimates the cost to inspect the MLG installation on U.S. 
operators to be $467.50, or $42.50 per glider.
    In addition, the FAA estimates that further inspection for damage 
of an improperly installed MLG would take about 4 work-hours costing 
$340 per glider. If any damage is found during this MLG inspection, it 
may vary considerably from glider to glider, and the FAA has no way of 
estimating a repair cost.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 airworthiness 
directive:

Stemme AG: Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-
AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 22, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Stemme AG Model Stemme S 12 gliders, serial 
numbers 12-002 through 12-026, inclusive, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as incorrect 
installation of an axle connecting the main landing gear (MLG) to 
the center steel frame of the glider. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the MLG. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in damage to the glider and possible injury to 
occupants.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, 
visually inspect the MLG

[[Page 56227]]

left-hand and right-hand legs for proper installation as depicted in 
Figure 3 of Stemme Service Bulletin No. P062-980037, Revision 00, 
dated June 5, 2019 (SB P062-980037).
    (2) If the MLG installation is not as depicted in Figure 3 of SB 
P062-980037, before further flight, inspect the MLG installation for 
damage in accordance with the Actions section, Action 2, in SB P062-
980037, except you are not required to contact Stemme if there is 
damage. Instead, repair any damage using a method approved by the 
FAA or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD or 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jim Rutherford, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to EASA AD 2019-0130-E, dated June 7, 2019, for more 
information. You may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0842.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
STEMME AG, Flugplatzstrasse F2, Nr. 6-7, D-15344 Strausberg, 
Germany; phone: +49 (0) 3341 3612-0, fax: +49 (0) 3341 3612-30; 
email: [email protected]; website: https://www.stemme.com. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on September 30, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-21934 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P