[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16396-16398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7783]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-36-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; HOAC AUSTRIA GmbH HK 36R ``Super
Dimona'' Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain HOAC AUSTRIA GmbH (HOAC) HK 36R
``Super Dimona'' gliders. The proposed action would require inspecting
the exhaust system for corrosion, replacing the exhaust system if
corrosion is found, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. Reports
received by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of severe exhaust
system corrosion on the affected gliders, including one of excessive
corrosion (rusting through), prompted the proposed action. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent carbon monoxide
leakage caused by a corroded exhaust system, which, if not detected and
corrected, could lead to passenger injuries.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 16, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region,
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-
CE-36-AD Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from HOAC AUSTRIA GmbH, N.A. Otto Strasse 5, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt,
Austria. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at
the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman C. Belderok, Project
Officer, Gliders, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, [[Page 16397]] in the Rules Docket for examination
by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact
concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the
Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 94-CE-36-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-36-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Austro Control GmbH (ACG), which is the airworthiness authority
for Austria, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may
exist on certain HOAC HK 36R ``Super Dimona'' gliders. The ACG reports
several incidents of severe exhaust system corrosion on the affected
gliders, including one of excessive corrosion (rusting through). If not
detected and corrected, excessive corrosion could result in high carbon
monoxide levels in the cockpit and subsequent passenger injury.
HOAC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 33, dated July 15, 1993,
which specifies procedures for inspecting the exhaust system of these
HK 36R ``Super Dimona'' gliders for corrosion, replacing the exhaust
systems, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. The ACG classified
this service bulletin as mandatory and issued ACG AD No. 74, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these gliders in Austria.
This glider model is manufactured in Austria and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the ACG has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
ACG, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other HOAC HK 36R ``Super Dimona'' gliders of the
same type design, the proposed AD would require inspecting the exhaust
system for corrosion, replacing the exhaust system if corrosion is
found, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. The proposed action
would be accomplished in accordance with the Measures section of HOAC
SB 33, dated July 15, 1993.
The FAA estimates that 4 gliders in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2
workhours per glider to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $25 per glider. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $580
($145 per glider). This figure is based on the assumption that no
affected owner/operator of the affected gliders has incorporated the
proposed installation or accomplished the proposed inspection.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
HOAC AUSTRIA GmbH: Docket No. 94-CE-36-AD.
Applicability: HK 36R ``Super Dimona'' gliders (serial numbers
36.302 through 36.324), certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each glider identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For gliders that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority
provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any glider from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 10 hours time-in- service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent carbon monoxide leakage caused by a corroded exhaust
system, which, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
passenger injuries, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the exhaust system for corrosion in accordance with
the Measures section of HOAC Service Bulletin (SB) 33, dated July
15, 1993. If corrosion if found, prior to further flight, replace
the exhaust system in accordance with the Measurement section of
HOAC SB 33, dated July 15, 1993.
(b) Install a carbon monoxide detector in accordance with the
Measures section of HOAC SB 33, dated July 15, 1993.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the glider to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request should
be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who
may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of [[Page 16398]] compliance with this AD, if
any, may be obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to HOAC AUSTRIA GmbH,
N.A. Otto Strasse 5, A- 2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria; or may
examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 24, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-7783 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am]
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