[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63340-63341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25226]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2014-0848; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-031-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
certain Grob-Werke Models G115EG and G120A 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 a defective starter solenoid. 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 December 8,
2014.
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, 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 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-2014-
0848; 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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4123; 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-2014-0848;
Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-031-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. 2014-0212, dated September 19, 2014 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Grob-Werke
Models G115EG and G120A airplanes. The MCAI states:
An operator of a G 115E aeroplane experienced a total loss of
electrical power in flight. The root cause was found to be a
defective starter solenoid causing an internal short circuit, which
resulted in breakdown of the system voltage.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in
reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, GROB Aircraft AG
issued Service Bulletin (SB) MSB1078-196 for G 115 aeroplanes and SB
MSB1121-144 for G 120 aeroplanes to provide instructions for
inspection and corrective action.
For the reason described above, this AD requires a one-time
inspection of the starter solenoid and, depending on the findings,
replacement of the starter.
A technical solution is currently under development 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-2014-0848.
Relevant Service Information
GROB Aircraft has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-196 and
Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-144, both dated July 14, 2014. The actions
described in this service information are intended to correct the
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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.
Interim Action
We consider this proposed AD interim action. GROB Aircraft is
currently working on a final technical solution to resolve the unsafe
condition. If final action is later identified, we might consider
further rulemaking.
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 4 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
[[Page 63341]]
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $2,040, or $340 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 4 work-hours and require parts costing $600, for a cost of
$940 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. Amend Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Grob-Werke: Docket No. FAA-2014-0848; Directorate Identifier 2014-
CE-031-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by December 8, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to GROB-WERKE Model G115EG airplanes, all serial
numbers through 82323/E, and Model G120A airplanes, all serial
numbers through 85063, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 80: Starting.
(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 defective
starter solenoid. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
defective starter solenoids, which could cause an internal short
circuit and could result in reduced control.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and
(f)(2) of this AD:
(1) Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD,
inspect the starter following the Accomplishment Instructions in
GROB Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-196, dated July 14, 2014,
or GROB Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-144, dated July 14,
2014, as applicable.
(2) If any damage is found on the starter during the inspection
required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight,
replace the starter with a serviceable part. Do the replacement
following the Accomplishment Instructions in GROB Aircraft Service
Bulletin No. MSB1078-196, dated July 14, 2014, or GROB Aircraft
Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-144, dated July 14, 2014, as
applicable.
(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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4123; 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.
2014-0212, dated September 19, 2014, for related information. You
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0848. For service
information related to this AD, contact Grob Aircraft AG, Customer
Service, 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 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 October 16, 2014.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25226 Filed 10-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P