FR Doc 05-11614

[Federal Register: June 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 113)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34323-34325]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jn05-6]

[[Page 34323]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20589; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-12-AD;
Amendment 39-14125; AD 2005-12-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Model G120A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A airplanes. This AD requires you to
repetitively inspect the nose landing gear (NLG) assembly, paying
special attention to the NLG swivel tube and the engine truss in the
area of the NLG attachment, for cracks and damaged (defective) welding
seams. If you find cracks or defects during any inspection, this AD
requires you to replace the cracked or defective part. This AD results
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by
the airworthiness authority for Germany. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct cracks and defects in the NLG assembly, which could
result in failure of the NLG. This failure could lead to a hard landing
and/or loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on July 28, 2005.
As of July 28, 2005, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the
regulation.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD,
contact GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: 011 49
8268 998139; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998200.
To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is FAA-2005-20589; Directorate

Identifier 2005-CE-12-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What events have caused this AD? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA),
which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently notified FAA
that an unsafe condition may exist on all GROB Model G120A airplanes.
The LBA reports cracks found on the nose landing gear (NLG) swivel tube
on one of the affected airplanes during routine maintenance.
What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If not detected
and corrected, cracks and defects in the nose landing gear assembly
could cause the nose landing gear to fail. This failure could lead to a
hard landing and/or loss of control of the airplane during landing
operations.
Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to
include an AD that would apply to all GROB Model G120A airplanes. This
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) on April 13, 2005 (70 FR 19340). The NPRM proposed to
require you to repetitively inspect the nose landing gear (NLG)
assembly, paying special attention to the NLG swivel tube and the
engine truss in the area of the NLG attachment, for cracks and damaged
(defective) welding seams. The NPRM also proposed to require you to
replace any cracked or defective part.
Is there a modification I can incorporate instead of repetitively
inspecting the nose landing gear assembly? The FAA has determined that
long-term continued operational safety would be better assured by
design changes that remove the source of the problem rather than by
repetitive inspections or other special procedures. With this in mind,
FAA will continue to work with GROB to collect information and perform
fatigue analysis in determining whether a future design change is
feasible.

Comments

Was the public invited to comment? We provided the public the
opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no
comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the
public.

Conclusion

What is FAA's final determination on this issue? We have carefully
reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor
editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10,
2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997,
July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This regulation now
includes material that relates to altered products, special flight
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD
actions.

Costs of Compliance

How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD
affects 6 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the
affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to do the
inspections:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost per Total cost on U.S. operators
airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work hour x $65 an hour = $65...... Not applicable.......... $65 $65 x 6 = $390.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cost for replacing any cracked or defective part based on the
results of the inspections will be covered under warranty by the
manufacturer.

Authority for This Rulemaking

What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action?
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

[[Page 34324]]

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

Will this AD impact various entities? We have determined that this
AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
This AD will 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.
Will this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? For
the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
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); and
3. 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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket
No. FAA-2005-20589; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-12-AD'' in your
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2005-12-09 Grob-Werke: Amendment 39-14125; Docket No. FAA-2005-
20589; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-12-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

(a) This AD becomes effective on July 28, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

(b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

(d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for
Germany. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks and
damage in the nose landing gear (NLG) assembly, which could result
in failure of the NLG. This failure could lead to a hard landing
and/or loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

(e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the nose landing Initially inspect Follow GRDB Service
gear (NLG) assembly for within the next 50 Bulletin No.
cracks or damages hours time-in- MSB1121-055 dated
(defective) welding seams. service (TIS) after November 26, 2004.
Pay special attention to July 28, 2005 (the
the NLG swivel tube and the effective date of
engine truss in the area of this AD), unless
the NLG attachment. already done.
Repetitively
inspect thereafter
at intervals not to
exceed 50 hours TIS.
(2) If you find cracks or Replace before Follow GROB Service
defects during any further flight Bulletin No.
inspection required in after the MSB1121-055 dated
paragraph (e)(1) of this inspection in which November 26, 2004.
AD, replace the cracked or cracks and/or
defective part. defects are found.
After you replace
the cracked or
defective part,
continue with the
repetitive
inspections
required in
paragraph (e)(1) of
this AD at the 50
hours TIS intervals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: The compliance time in this AD is different than the
compliance time in GROB Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-055 dated
November 26, 2004. The compliance time in this AD takes precedence
over the compliance time in the service information.

May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?

(f) You may request a different method of compliance or a
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments
and will send your request to the Manager, Standards Office, Small
Airplane Directorate, FAA. For information on any already approved
alternative methods of compliance, contact Karl Schletzbaum,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146;
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

(g) German AD Number D-2004-514, effective date: December 9,
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

(h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the
instructions in GROB Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-055 dated November
26, 2004. The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get a copy of this
service information, contact GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt,
Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Federal Republic
of Germany; telephone: 011 49 8268 998139; facsimile: 011 49 8268
998200. To review copies of this service information, go to the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
or call (202) 741-6030. To view the AD docket,

go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is FAA-2005-20589; Directorate

Identifier 2005-CE-12-AD.

[[Page 34325]]

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 6, 2005.
Kim Smith,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11614 Filed 6-13-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P