Federal Register, Volume 75 Issue 84 (Monday, May 3, 2010)

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23194-23196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9954]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0458; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-023-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG Models G102
ASTIR CS and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:

During an annual inspection, a water ballast hose connector was
found disconnected from the fuselage wall of an Astir CS.
The investigation has shown that the hose-fuselage connection
bonding has been degraded over years of service.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the following
consequences:

--The water contained in the wing tanks could run down into the
fuselage and fuselage tail which could cause a displacement of the
sailplane centre of gravity and consequently may lead to the loss of
the sailplane controllability, or/and
--The loosened hose may jam the flight controls (push rods) and
consequently may lead to the loss of the sailplane controllability.

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0458;
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-023-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD No.: 2010-0053R1, dated April 14, 2010 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:

[[Page 23195]]

For the reason stated above, the original issue of this AD
required the inspection of the waterballast system hose-fuselage
connections and the accomplishment of the relevant corrective
actions (repair) as necessary.
This AD is revised to clarify the purpose of the insertion of
the repetitive inspection in the Aircraft Maintenance Programme and
to refer to a more appropriate scheduled maintenance review for the
insertion of the repetitive inspection in the Aircraft Maintenance
Programme.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.

Relevant Service Information

GROB Aircraft AG has issued Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB-
GROB-003, dated October 21, 2009. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a Note within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 113 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $9,605, or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 1 work-hour and require parts costing $5, for a cost of $90
per product. We have no way of determining the number of products that
may need these actions.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG: Docket No. FAA-2010-0458; Directorate
Identifier 2010-CE-023-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by June 17, 2010.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Models G102 ASTIR CS and G102 STANDARD
ASTIR III gliders, all serial numbers, that are:
(1) Certificated in any category; and
(2) Have water ballast equipment installed (the water ballast
equipment could have been included as part of an option).

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 41: Water
Ballast.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
During an annual inspection, a water ballast hose connector was
found disconnected from the fuselage wall of an Astir CS.
The investigation has shown that the hose-fuselage connection
bonding has been degraded over years of service.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the following
consequences:

--The water contained in the wing tanks could run down into the
fuselage and

[[Page 23196]]

fuselage tail which could cause a displacement of the sailplane
centre of gravity and consequently may lead to the loss of the
sailplane controllability, or/and
--The loosened hose may jam the flight controls (push rods) and
consequently may lead to the loss of the sailplane controllability.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD and
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months,
inspect the bonding between the water ballast system hose connectors
and the fuselage wall connectors for correct and tight connection
following paragraph 1.8 of Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB-
GROB-003, dated October 21, 2009.
(2) If, during any inspection required by paragraphs (f)(1) of
this AD, any weak bonding is found, before further flight, repair
the connection between the water ballast system hose connectors and
the fuselage wall connectors following the instructions of paragraph
1.8 of Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB-GROB-003, dated
October 21, 2009.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, when installing a water
ballast system on any affected sailplane, ensure that the water
ballast system hose connectors and the fuselage wall connector are
properly and tightly bonded.
(4) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, insert
the following scheduled maintenance task into the FAA-approved
aircraft maintenance program: ``During each annual inspection and
without exceeding a 12-month interval, inspect the bonding between
the water ballast system hose connectors and the fuselage wall
connectors for correct and tight connection. Repair any incorrect or
loose connection.''

FAA AD Differences

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using
any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify
your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD No.: 2010-
0053R1, dated April 14, 2010; and Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No.
MSB-GROB-003, dated October 21, 2009, for related information.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 22, 2010.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-9954 Filed 4-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P