[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7082-7083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3519]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21
Sailplanes
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 Alexander Schleicher (Schleicher) Model ASK-21
sailplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting the S-shaped
rudder pedal tube for displacement, and correcting any displacement of
the plastic tube. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority
for Germany. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent rudder control jamming, which, if not corrected, could result
in loss of directional control of the sailplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 17, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-104-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 Alexander Schleicher, Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 Poppenhausen,
Wasserkuppe, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone 49.6658.890 or
49.6658.8920; facsimile: 49.6658.8923 or 49.6658.8940. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer,
Sailplanes/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, 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. 97-CE-104-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 Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority
for the Federal Republic of Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes. The
LBA reports that the plastic tube in the S-shaped rudder pedal tube is
slipping out of the rudder pedal tube and causing the rudder pedal to
jam. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of
directional control of the sailplane.
Relevant Service Information
Alexander Schleicher has issued Technical Note No. 20, dated
October 16, 1987, which specifies procedures for inspecting the plastic
S-shaped rudder pedal tube for displacement. If the tube is displaced,
the technical note requires that the displacement of the plastic tube
be corrected.
The LBA classified this technical note as mandatory and issued AD
88-2 Schleicher, dated January 18, 1988, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.
The FAA's Determination
The Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes are manufactured
in Germany and are 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 LBA
has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has
examined the findings of the LBA, reviewed all available information
including the service information referenced above, and determined that
AD action is necessary for sailplanes of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes
of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed
AD would require inspecting the plastic S-shaped rudder pedal tube for
displacement. If the rudder tube is displaced, the proposed action
would require correcting the placement of the plastic S-shaped rudder
pedal tube. Accomplishment of the proposed inspection would be in
accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of Alexander
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987.
Proposed Compliance Time
The proposed action, the LBA AD, and the Alexander Schleicher
Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987, differ on compliance
time. The LBA AD and the Technical Note require that the inspection for
displacement of the plastic tube be accomplished prior to further
flight.
[[Page 7083]]
The FAA is proposing a calendar compliance time instead of hours
time-in-service (TIS) because the service history on the U.S.-
registered Alexander Schleicher Model ASK-21 sailplanes does not
warrant a need for immediate compliance. Also, the average monthly
usage of the affected sailplanes varies throughout the fleet. For
example, one owner may operate the sailplane 25 hours TIS in one week,
while another operator may operate the sailplane 25 hours TIS in one
year. In order to ensure that all of the affected sailplanes have been
inspected for displacement of the plastic S-shaped rudder tube and any
displacement has been corrected within a reasonable amount of time, the
FAA is proposing a compliance time of 6 calendar months.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 30 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2
workhours per sailplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $5 (for glue) per sailplane. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to
be $3,750 or $125 per sailplane.
Regulatory Impact
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Alexander Schliecher: Docket No. 97-CE-104-AD.
Applicability: Model ASK-21 sailplanes (serial numbers 21001
through 21345), certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each sailplane 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 sailplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 6 calendar months after the
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent rudder control jamming, which, if not corrected,
could result in loss of directional control of the sailplane,
accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the plastic S-shaped rudder pedal tube for
displacement in accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and
1.3 of Alexander Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16,
1987.
(b) If there is any displacement of the plastic S-shaped rudder
pedal tube, prior to further flight, correct the placement in
accordance with the Actions sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of Alexander
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987.
(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 sailplane 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, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri
64106. The request shall 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 compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(e) Questions or technical information related to Alexander
Schleicher Technical Note No. 20, dated October 16, 1987, should be
directed to Alexander Schleicher, Segelflugzeugbau, 6416
Poppenhausen, Wasserkuppe, Federal Republic of Germany. This service
information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD No. 88-
2 Schleicher, dated January 18, 1988.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 5, 1998.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3519 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
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