14296 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 53 / Thursday, March 19, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0633; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–CE–005–AD; Amendment 

39–18121; AD 2015–06–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG 

Gliders 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Stemme 

AG TSA–M Models S6 and S6–RT 

gliders. This AD results from mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the aviation authority 

of another country to identify and 

correct an unsafe condition on an 

aviation product. The MCAI describes 

the unsafe condition as a bending defect 

of the fork head installed in the aileron, 

speed brake, and flap control systems. 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 24, 

2015. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by May 4, 2015. 

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. 

For information concerning this 

action, contact Stemme AG, 

Flugplatzstra+e F2, Nr. 6–7, D–15344 

Strausberg, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 

3341/3612 0; fax: none; email: info@

stemme.de; internet: www.stemme.info. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

0633; 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 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: Jim 

Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: jim.rutherford@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued AD No.: 2015– 

0034–E, dated February 27, 2015, 

(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

A report was received concerning a broken 

fork head, installed in the speed brake 

control circuit of a TSA–M Model S6–RT 

powered sailplane. Preliminary investigation 

results revealed additional cases of bending 

defect of the same part, which were installed 

in the aileron and flaps control systems of the 

TSA–M type design. The same fork heads are 

also installed in the control systems of ASP 

Model S15–1 aeroplanes. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to failure of the flight control system, 

possibly resulting in loss of control of the 

aeroplane. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

prohibits the operation of the affected 

aeroplanes pending the availability of a 

modification of the affected flight control 

systems in accordance with approved 

instructions. 

This AD is a temporary measure and 

further AD action may follow. You may 

examine the MCAI on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

0633. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the 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 issuing this 

AD because we evaluated all 

information provided by the State of 

Design Authority and determined the 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other products of the 

same type design. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD. The FAA has found that the risk to 

the flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule because a bending defect of the fork 

head could lead to failure of the flight 

control system, possibly resulting in 

loss of control. Therefore, 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 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2015–0633; 

Directorate Identifier 2015–CE–005– 

AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this 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 AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 6 

products of U.S. registry. 

At the time of issuance of this AD, no 

design solution is available to restore 

the airworthiness of the respective type 

designs to a level corresponding to their 

approved type design specifications. 

Therefore, the FAA cannot determine 

the cost of returning the affected gliders 

to service. 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 53 / Thursday, March 19, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 14297 

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 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 AD: 

2015–06–03 Stemme AG: Amendment 39– 

18121; Docket No. FAA–2015–0633; 

Directorate Identifier 2015–CE–005–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective March 24, 2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Stemme AG TSA–M 

Models S6 and S6–RT gliders, all serial 

numbers, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by 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 a bending 

defect of the fork head installed in the 

aileron, speed brake, and flap control 

systems. We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct the bending defect of the fork head 

that could result in failure of the flight 

control system, possibly resulting in loss of 

control. 

(f) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, before further flight, 

after March 24, 2015 (the effective date of 

this AD), modify the affected flight control 

systems, or take other actions, following a 

method approved specifically for this AD by 

the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate. Contact 

Stemme AG to obtain FAA-approved repair 

instructions approved specifically for 

compliance with this AD and incorporate 

those instructions. You can find contact 

information for Stemme AG in paragraph 

(i)(2) of this AD. 

Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD: At the 

time of issuance of this AD, no design 

solution is available to restore the 

airworthiness of the respective type designs 

to a level corresponding to their approved 

type design specifications. 

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions 

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: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 329– 

4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov. 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. 

(h) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) Refer to MCAI European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 2015–0034– 

E, dated February 27, 2015, for related 

information. You may examine the MCAI on 

the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. FAA– 

2015–0633. 

(2) For information concerning this action, 

contact Stemme AG, Flugplatzstra+e F2, Nr. 

6–7, D–15344 Strausberg, Germany; phone: 

+49 (0) 3341/3612 0; fax: none; email: info@

stemme.de; internet: www.stemme.info. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

12, 2015. 

Robert Busto, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06296 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0579; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–SW–020–AD; Amendment 

39–18115; AD 2015–05–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta 

S.p.A. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014–04– 

14 for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model 

A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 

MKII helicopters. AD 2014–04–14 

required removing certain rod end 

assemblies from service because of 

reports of fractures. This new AD retains 

the requirements of AD 2014–04–14 but 

expands the scope of applicable rod end 

assemblies. This AD was prompted by 

reports of additional fractured rod end 

assemblies. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of a rod end assembly, 

which could result in damage to the 

main rotor assembly and loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 23, 

2015. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact 

AgustaWestland, Product Support 

Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 

Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: 

Maurizio D’Angelo; telephone 39–0331– 

664757; fax 39–0331–664680; or at 

http://www.agustawestland.com/

technical-bulletins. You may view this 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 


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