[Federal Register: September 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 181)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54757-54759]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se06-2]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD;
Amendment 39-14765; AD 2006-19-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME S10-
VT Sailplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes. This AD
requires you to do a one-time inspection of all exhaust bends (each
cylinder 1 to 4) in the area of the curvature bend near the cylinder
flange, replace any damaged exhaust pipes found, and recondition the
heat protection wrapping. This AD results from deformations and cracks
found at an exhaust bend during maintenance work. We are issuing this
AD to detect and correct cracks in the exhaust pipes. Damaged exhaust
pipes could cause exhaust gases to expand into the engine compartment
and/or carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into the cockpit section.
DATES: This AD becomes effective on October 10, 2006.
As of October 10, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed
in the regulation.
We must receive any comments on this AD by October 19, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
[[Page 54758]]
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
To get the service information identified in this AD, contact
STEMME AG-Flugplatzstra[beta]e F2, Nr. 7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany;
telephone: +49.33.41/36 12-0; fax: +49.33 41/36 12-30.
To view the comments to this AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. The
docket number is FAA-2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Davison, Glider Program
Manager, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone:
(816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
airworthiness authority for the European Union (EU), recently notified
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Stemme GmbH & Co.
KG Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes. The EASA reports that deformations
and cracks at an exhaust bend were found during maintenance work. The
defective exhaust bend was found on the thermally topmost loaded front-
left cylinder. The damaged area is located in the curvature bend near
the cylinder flange. If not corrected, exhaust gases may expand into
the engine compartment and/or CO may leak into the cockpit section.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075 Am.-
Index: 01.a, dated July 06, 2006. The service information describes
procedures for inspecting the exhaust pipes in the curvature bend near
the exhaust flange, replacing any damaged pipes found, and
reconditioning the heat protection wrapping.
The EASA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
EU AD No.: 2006-0217-E, dated July 17, 2006, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these sailplanes in the EU.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
These Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME V10-VT 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.
Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the EASA has kept us
informed of the situation described above. We are issuing this AD
because we evaluated all the information and determined the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design. This AD requires you to do a one-time
inspection of all exhaust bends (each cylinder 1 to 4) in the area of
the curvature bend near the cylinder flange, replace any damaged
exhaust pipes found, and recondition the heat protection wrapping.
In preparing this rule, we contacted type clubs and aircraft
operators to get technical information and information on operational
and economic impacts. We did not receive any information through these
contacts. If received, we would have included a discussion of any
information that may have influenced this action in the rulemaking
docket.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good
cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and an opportunity for
public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views,
or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light
of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this AD.
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 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.
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 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is
located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
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,
[[Page 54759]]
the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2006-19-08 Stemme GmbH & Co. KG: Amendment 39-14765; Docket No. FAA-
2006-25689; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective on October 10, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes, serial
numbers 11-001 through 11-103, that are certificated in any
category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from deformations and cracks found at an
exhaust bend during maintenance work. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct cracks in the exhaust pipes. Damaged exhaust
pipes could cause exhaust gases to expand into the engine
compartment and/or carbon monoxide to leak into the cockpit section.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
done previously:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Inspect all exhaust Within the next 10 Follow Stemme GmbH &
bends (each cylinder 1 to hours time-in- Co. KG Service
4) in the area of the service after Bulletin A31-10-075
curvature bend near the Octoober 10, 2006. Am.-Index: 01.a,
cylinder flange for dated July 06,
deformations, cracks, and/ 2006, except use a
or flattening. Use a minimum 10X
minimum 10X magnifier to magnifier to aid
aid the inspection. the inspection.
(2) If any damage Before further Follow Stemme GmbH &
(deformation, cracks, and/ flight after the Co. KG Service
or flattening) is found in inspection required Bulletin A31-10-075
the inspection required in by paragraph (e)(1) Am.-Index: 01.a,
paragraph (e)(1) of this of this AD. dated July 06,
AD, replace the damaged 2006.
exhaust pipe.
(3) Recondition the heat Before further Follow Stemme GmbH &
protection wrapping. flight after the Co. KG Service
inspection done in Bulletin A31-10-075
paragraph (e)(1) or Am.-Index: 01.a,
the replacement dated July 06,
done in paragraph 2006.
(e)(2) of this AD.
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Note: According to the Maintenance Manual an inspection of the
condition of the exhaust pipes is scheduled for every 100 flight
hours. It is recommended to pay special attention to this item.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Gregory Davison,
Glider Project Manager, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130;
fax: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD,
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(g) This AD is related to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
AD No.: 2006-0217-E, Issue date: July 17, 2006, which references
Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075 Am.-Index: 01.a,
dated July 06, 2006.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the
instructions in Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Service Bulletin A31-10-075
Am.-Index: 01.a, dated July 06, 2006. 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 STEMME AG-
Flugplatzstra[beta]e F2, Nr. 7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany;
telephone: +49.33.41/36 12-0; fax: +49.33 41/36 12-30. 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/[fxsp0
]federal--register/[fxsp0]code--of--federal--regulations/
[fxsp0]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-2006-25689; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-45-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2006.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15329 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
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