[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15793-15795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8463]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-133-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH Models
DG-100 and DG-400 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 all Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (Glaser-
Dirks) Models DG-100 and DG-400 gliders. The proposed AD would require
repetitively inspecting the airbrakes to assure they retract at their
outboard end first, and repairing the airbrakes if they do not retract
at their outboard end first; and repetitively inspecting the airbrake
torque tube in the fuselage for cracks or deformations, and reinforcing
or replacing, as necessary, if cracks or deformations are found in the
airbrake torque 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 overloading of the airbrake control system caused
by free play between the bellcrank and airbrake plate, which could
result in failure of the operating lever of the airbrake torque tube in
the fuselage.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 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-133-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 DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH, Postfach 4120, D-76625 Bruchsal 4, Germany;
telephone: +49 7257-89-0; facsimile: +49 7257-8922. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer,
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; 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-133-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-133-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may
exist on all DG-Flugzeugbau Models DG-100 and DG-400 gliders. The LBA
reports two weld joint failures of the airbrake torque tube and
incidents of free play between the bellcrank and airbrake plate. This
freeplay could prevent the airbrake cap from being flush with the wing
surface at the outboard wing at the outboard end.
These conditions, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in overloading of the airbrake control
[[Page 15794]]
system and failure of the operating lever of the airbrake torque tube
in the fuselage.
Relevant Service Information
Glaser-Dirks has issued DG-Flugzeugbau Technical Note No. 301/18,
No. 323/9, and No. 826/34, dated November 4, 1996, which specifies
inspecting the airbrakes to assure they retract at their outboard end
first, and repairing the airbrakes if they do not retract at their
outboard end first; and repetitively inspecting the airbrake torque
tube in the fuselage for cracks or deformations, and reinforcing or
replacing, as necessary, if cracks or deformations are found in the
airbrake torque tube. The procedures for accomplishing these actions
are included in the following:
DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH Working instructions No. 1 for
Technical Note No. 301/18, 323/9, and 826/34, dated November 4, 1996,
for the airbrake retraction inspection and repair; and
DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH Working instructions No. 2 for
Technical Note No. 301/18, 323/9, and 826/34, dated November 4, 1996,
for the airbrake torque tube inspection and reinforcement or
replacement.
The LBA classified this service information as mandatory and issued
German AD 97-011, dated January 30, 1997, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these gliders in Germany.
The FAA's Determination
This glider model is manufactured in Germany 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 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 products 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 Glaser-Dirks Models DG-100 and DG-400 gliders
of the same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is
proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require repetitively
inspecting the airbrakes to assure they retract at their outboard end
first, and repairing the airbrakes if they do not retract at their
outboard end first; and repetitively inspecting the airbrake torque
tube in the fuselage for cracks or deformations, and reinforcing or
replacing, as necessary, if cracks or deformations are found in the
airbrake torque tube. Accomplishment of the proposed installation would
be required in accordance with the service information previously
referenced.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
Although the problems identified with the airbrake control system
would only be unsafe during flight, this condition is not a result of
the number of times the glider is operated. The chance of this
situation occurring is the same for a glider with 10 hours time-in-
service (TIS) as it is for a glider with 500 hours TIS. For this
reason, the FAA has determined that a compliance based on calendar time
should be utilized in the proposed AD in order to assure that the
unsafe condition is addressed on all gliders in a reasonable time
period.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 45 gliders in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4
workhours per glider to accomplish the proposed inspections, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $10,800, or $240 per glider.
These figures are based only on the initial inspections and do not
take into account the costs of any repetitive inspections or
reinforcements and modifications that would be needed based on the
results of the proposed inspections. The FAA has no way of determining
the number of repetitive inspections each owner/operator of the
affected airplanes would incur, or the number of airbrake control
systems that would require modification, reinforcement, or repair.
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:
Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GMBH: Docket No. 97-CE-133-AD.
Applicability: Models DG-100 and DG-400 gliders, all serial
numbers, 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 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent overloading of the airbrake control system caused by
free play between the bellcrank and airbrake plate, which could
result in failure of the operating lever of the
[[Page 15795]]
airbrake torque tube in the fuselage, accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 3 calendar months after the effective date
of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar
months, inspect the airbrakes to assure they retract at their
outboard end first in accordance with DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH Working
instructions No. 1 for Technical Note No. 301/18, 323/9, and 826/34,
dated November 4, 1996. If the airbrakes do not retract at their
outboard end first, prior to further flight, repair the airbrakes in
accordance with the above-referenced working instructions.
(b) Within the next 30 calendar days after the effective date of
this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar
months, inspect the airbrake torque tube in the fuselage for cracks
or deformations in accordance with DG-Flugzeugbau GmbH Working
instructions No. 2 for Technical Note No. 301/18, 323/9, and 826/34,
dated November 4, 1996. If cracks or deformations are found in the
airbrake torque tube, prior to further flight, reinforce or replace,
as necessary, in accordance with the above-referenced working
instructions.
(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
initial or repetitive compliance times 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 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 service
information referenced in this AD should be directed to DG-
Flugzeugbau GmbH, Postfach 4120, D-76625 Bruchsal 4, Germany;
telephone: +49 7257-89-0; facsimile: +49 7257-8922. 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 97-011,
dated January 30, 1997.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 24, 1998.
Carolanne L. Cabrini,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8463 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
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