[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21082-21084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08188]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0315; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-006-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Airplanes
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
GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG Model G 115E airplanes. 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 incorrect cable routing causing electrical
shorting behind the left-hand (LH) cockpit instrument panel. 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 May 24, 2013.
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
Grob Aircraft AG, Customer Service, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 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 review copies of the 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; 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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; 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-2013-0315;
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-006-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.: 2013-0017, dated January 17, 2013 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
Occurrences were reported of finding an electrical shorting of
main cable loom behind the left-hand (LH) instrument panel of some
Grob G115E aeroplanes. In one case, the main cable loom arcing
caused an Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator failure. During
the fleet checks, additional cases of main cable loom routing and
consequent rubbing with Omni Bearing Selector behind the cockpit
instrument panel were identified, while the cable routing was not in
conformity with the approved type design.
The investigation results concluded that the instrument panels
of affected aeroplanes were removed and subsequently re-installed,
in service, during embodiment of various optional modifications.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
smoke in the cockpit and/or functional loss of navigation equipment
and instruments.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Grob Aircraft AG
published Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) MSB1078-191/1, providing
instructions to inspect and correct the cable routing behind the
cockpit instrument panel.
For the reason described above, this AD requires accomplishment
of a one- time inspection to verify correct cable routing behind the
LH cockpit instrument panel and, depending on findings, correction
and replacement of damaged parts.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
GROB-WERKE has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-191/1, dated
January 15, 2013. The actions described in this service information are
intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
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 0 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $10 per product.
[[Page 21083]]
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $0 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $100, for a cost of
$780 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
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:
GROB-WERKE: Docket No. FAA-2013-0315; Directorate Identifier 2013-
CE-006-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by May 24, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to GROB-WERKE Model G 115E airplanes, serial
numbers 82086/E through 82184/E, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 31: Instruments.
(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 incorrect cable
routing causing electrical shorting behind the left-hand (LH)
cockpit instrument panel. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect
and correct incorrect cable routing, which could result in smoke in
the cockpit and/or functional loss of navigation equipment and
instruments.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD or within the next 30 days after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the main
cable routing behind the LH instrument panel following the
Accomplishment Instructions section of GROB Aircraft Service
Bulletin No. MSB1078-191/1, dated January 15, 2013.
(2) If incorrect cable loom routing is detected during the
inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further
flight, correct the cable loom routing following the Accomplishment
Instructions section of GROB Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-
191/1, dated January 15, 2013.
(3) If damaged (by fretting or burns) cables or instruments are
detected during the inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this
AD, before further flight, replace the damaged cables or
instruments, as applicable, with serviceable parts following the
Accomplishment Instructions section of GROB Aircraft Service
Bulletin No. MSB1078-191/1, dated January 15, 2013.
(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service
Information
This paragraph provides credit for the actions required in
paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), and (f)(3) of this AD if already done
before the effective date of this AD following the Accomplishment
Instructions section of GROB Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-
191, dated December 6, 2012.
(h) 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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; 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.
(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 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.
(i) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.:
2013-0017, dated January 17, 2013; GROB Aircraft Service Bulletin
No. MSB1078-191/1, dated January 15, 2013; and GROB Aircraft Service
Bulletin No. MSB1078-191, dated December 6, 2012, for related
information. For service information related to this AD, contact
Grob
[[Page 21084]]
Aircraft AG, Customer Service, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 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 review copies of the 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 2, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08188 Filed 4-8-13; 8:45 am]
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