This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

72134

Vol. 69, No. 238

Monday, December 13, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19522; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–36–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; CENTRAIR 

101 Series Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain CENTRAIR 101 series gliders. 

This proposed AD would require you to 

replace non-strengthened rudder pedals 

with reinforced rudder pedals. This 

proposed AD results from mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 

authority for France. We are issuing this 

proposed AD to replace the nonstrengthened rudder pedals, to prevent 

failure of the rudder controls. This 

failure could lead to loss of directional 

control of the glider.

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by January 14, 

2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to 

submit comments on this proposed 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. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• 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 proposed AD, contact 

CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 

Le Blanc, France; telephone: 

02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 

02.54.37.48.64. 

To view the comments to this 

proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov.

This is docket number FAA–2004–

19522.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg 

Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4130; facsimile: 

(816) 329–4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

How do I comment on this proposed 

AD? We invite you to submit any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments regarding this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include the docket 

number, ‘‘FAA–2004–19522; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–36–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your 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 with 

FAA personnel concerning this 

proposed rulemaking. Using the search 

function of our docket Web site, anyone 

can find and read the comments 

received into any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). This is 

docket number FAA–2004–19522. You 

may review the DOT’s complete Privacy 

Act Statement in the Federal Register

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you may visit http://

dms.dot.gov.

Are there any specific portions of this 

proposed AD I should pay attention to?

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this proposed AD. If you contact us 

through a nonwritten communication 

and that contact relates to a substantive 

part of this proposed AD, we will 

summarize the contact and place the 

summary in the docket. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD in light of those comments 

and contacts. 

Docket Information 

Where can I go to view the docket 

information? You may view the AD 

docket that contains the proposal, any 

comments received, and any final 

disposition in person at the DMS Docket 

Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

(eastern standard time), Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Office (telephone 1–800–

647–5227) is located on the plaza level 

of the Department of Transportation 

NASSIF Building at the street address 

stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view 

the AD docket on the Internet at http:/

/dms.dot.gov. The comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

the DMS receives them. 

Discussion 

What events have caused this 

proposed AD? The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale 

de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is 

the airworthiness authority for France, 

recently notified FAA that an unsafe 

condition may exist on certain 

CENTRAIR 101 series gliders. The 

DGAC reports finding previously 

undetected cracks or poorly repaired 

cracks on several CENTRAIR 101 series 

gliders at the weld seam between the 

hinge tube and the vertical tube of the 

rudder pedal. The rupture of this weld 

could lead to failure of the rudder 

controls. 

What is the potential impact if FAA 

took no action? Failure of the rudder 

controls could lead to loss of directional 

control of the glider.

Is there service information that 

applies to this subject? CENTRAIR has 

issued Socie ́te ́ Nouvelle Centrair Service 

Bulletin No. 101–24, dated March 5, 

2003 (this is the date of the French AD 

2003–095(a) that transmitted the service 

bulletin). 

What are the provisions of this service 

information? The service bulletin 

includes procedures for:

—Immediately inspecting (using dye 

penetrant) the weld between the hinge 

tube and the vertical tube on both 

rudder pedals for any cracks; 

—Immediately replacing any rudder 

pedal if a crack is found; and 

—Eventually replacing any nonstrengthened rudder pedals with a 

reinforced rudder pedal.

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 238 / Monday, December 13, 2004 / Proposed Rules 72135

What action did the DGAC take? The 

DGAC classified this service bulletin as 

mandatory and issued French AD 

Number 2003–095(A), dated March 5, 

2003, to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these gliders in France. 

Did the DGAC inform the United 

States under the bilateral airworthiness 

agreement? These CENTRAIR 101 series 

gliders are manufactured in France 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 DGAC has kept us 

informed of the situation described 

above. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

What has FAA decided? We have 

examined the DGAC’s findings, 

reviewed all available information, and 

determined that AD action is necessary 

for products of this type design that are 

certificated for operation in the United 

States. 

Since the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

on other CENTRAIR 101 series gliders of 

the same type design that are registered 

in the United States, we are proposing 

AD action to replace the nonstrengthened rudder pedals, which 

could result in failure of the rudder 

controls. This failure could lead to loss 

of directional control of the glider. 

What would this proposed AD 

require? This proposed AD would 

require you to replace non-strengthened 

rudder pedals with reinforced rudder 

pedals, part number (P/N) $Y185A for 

the left-hand rudder pedal and P/N 

$Y196A for the right-hand rudder pedal. 

How does the revision to 14 CFR part 

39 affect this proposed AD? On July 10, 

2002, we published a new version of 14 

CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22, 

2002), which governs 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 gliders would this 

proposed AD impact? We estimate that 

this proposed AD affects 56 gliders in 

the U.S. registry. 

What would be the cost impact of this 

proposed AD on owners/operators of the 

affected gliders? We estimate the 

following costs to do this proposed 

rudder pedal replacement. We have no 

way of determining the number of 

gliders that may need this rudder pedal 

replacement:

Labor cost per rudder pedal Parts cost Total cost per 

glider 

4 workhours × $65 per hour = $260 ............................................ $162 (for each rudder pedal) × 2 = $324 ................................... $584

Regulatory Findings 

Would this proposed AD impact 

various entities? We have 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. 

Would this proposed AD involve a 

significant rule or regulatory action? For 

the reasons discussed above, I certify 

that this proposed 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 proposed AD 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 ‘‘AD Docket FAA–

2004–19522; Directorate Identifier 

2004–CE–36–AD’’ in your request. 

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the Federal Aviation Administration 

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.

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD):

CENTRAIR: Docket No. FAA–2004–19522; 

Directorate Identifier 2004–CE–36–AD. 

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit 

Comments on This Proposed AD? 

(a) We must receive comments on this 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) by 

January 14, 2005. 

What Other ADs Are Affected by This 

Action? 

(b) None. 

What Gliders Are Affected by This AD? 

(c) This AD affects Models 101, 101A, 

101AP, and 101P gliders, serial numbers 

101xx001 through 101xx285 and 101D0501 

through 101D0530, certificated in any 

category. 

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 

France. We are issuing this AD to replace the 

non-strengthened rudder pedals, and prevent 

failure of the rudder controls. This failure 

could lead to loss of directional control of the 

glider. 

What Must I Do To Address This Problem? 

(e) To address this problem, you must do 

the following:

72136 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 238 / Monday, December 13, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

Actions Compliance Procedures 

(1) Replace any non-strengthened rudder pedals with reinforced rudder pedals: 

(i) The left-hand reinforced rudder pedal is 

part number (P/N) $Y185A; and 

(ii) The right-hand reinforced rudder pedal 

is P/N $Y196A. 

Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

after the effective date of this AD, unless already done.

Follow Socie ́te ́ Nouvelle Centrair Service Bulletin No. 101–24, dated March 5, 2003 (this 

is the date of the French AD 2003–095(a) 

that transmitted the service bulletin). The 

applicable glider maintenance manual also 

addresses this issue. 

(2) Do not install any non-strengthened rudder 

pedal as specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and 

(e)(1)(ii) of this AD.

As of the effective date of this AD ................... Not Applicable. 

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 Greg Davison, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4130; facsimile: 

(816) 329–4090. 

Is There Other Information That Relates to 

This Subject? 

(g) French AD 2003–095(A), dated March 

5, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD. 

May I Get Copies of the Documents 

Referenced in This AD? 

(h) To get copies of the documents 

referenced in this AD, contact CENTRAIR, 

Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 Le Blanc, France; 

telephone: 02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 

02.54.37.48.64. 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, or on the Internet at http:/

/dms.dot.gov. This is docket number FAA–

2004–19522.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

December 6, 2004. 

Scott L. Sedgwick, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–27197 Filed 12–10–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19616; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–38–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; CENTRAIR 

101 Series Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

CENTRAIR 101 series gliders with other 

than elevator or aileron part number (P/

N) SY991A hinge pins installed. This 

proposed AD would require you to 

replace any installed elevator or aileron 

hinge pins that are not P/N SY991A 

hinge pins with P/N SY991A pins. This 

proposed AD results from mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 

authority for France. We are issuing this 

proposed AD to replace incorrectly heattreated elevator or aileron hinge pins, 

which could result in failure of the 

elevator or ailerons. Such failure during 

takeoff, landing, or flight operations 

could lead to loss of glider control.

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by January 14, 

2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to 

submit comments on this proposed 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–

001. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• 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 proposed AD, contact 

CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 

Le Blanc, France; telephone: 

02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 

02.54.37.48.64. 

To view the comments to this 

proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov.

This is docket number FAA–2004–

19616.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg 

Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4130; facsimile: 

(816) 329–4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited 

How do I comment on this proposed 

AD? We invite you to submit any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments regarding this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include the docket 

number, ‘‘FAA–2004–19616; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–38–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your 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 with 

FAA personnel concerning this 

proposed rulemaking. Using the search 

function of our docket Web site, anyone 

can find and read the comments 

received into any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). This is 

docket number FAA–2004–19616. You 

may review the DOT’s complete Privacy 

Act Statement in the Federal Register

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78) or you may visit http://

dms.dot.gov.

Are there any specific portions of this 

proposed AD I should pay attention to?

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this proposed AD. If you contact us 

through a nonwritten communication 

and that contact relates to a substantive 

part of this proposed AD, we will 

summarize the contact and place the 

summary in the docket. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD in light of those comments 

and contacts.