Airworthiness Directives; Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG Gliders
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 153 (Monday, August 10, 2015)
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
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
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(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: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.
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
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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: jim.rutherford@faa.gov. 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
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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
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