This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

62945

Vol. 62, No. 228

Wednesday, November 26, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–CE–37–AD; Amendment 39–

10216; AD 97–24–09]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart

Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt, Model G

103 C Twin III SL Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to Burkhart Grob, Luft-und

Raumfahrt (Grob), Model G 103 C Twin

III SL sailplanes. This action requires

repetitively inspecting the propeller

bearing and upper pulley wheel for

increased play and, if increased play is

found, modifying the propeller bearing

and pulley wheel with a part of

improved design. This AD is the result

of mandatory continuing airworthiness

information (MCAI) issued by the

airworthiness authority for Germany.

The actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent the loss of the

sailplane engine propeller and possible

loss of the sailplane.

DATES: Effective January 5, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of January 5,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information that

applies to this AD may be obtained from

Burkhart Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, D–

86874 Mattsies, Germany. This

information may also be examined at

the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 96–CE–37–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,

suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer,

Sailplanes, Small Airplane Directorate,

Airplane Certification Service, FAA,

1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426–

6934, facsimile (816) 426–2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This

AD

A proposal to amend part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) to include an AD that would

apply to Grob Model G 103 C Twin III

SL sailplanes was published in the

Federal Register on January 29, 1997

(62 FR 4205). The action proposed to

require inspecting the propeller bearing

and pulley wheel for increased play, if

there is no increased play in the

propeller bearing and pulley wheel,

continuing to inspect, and if increased

play is found, modifying the propeller

bearing and upper pulley wheel by

installing a part of improved design.

The modification would be considered

a terminating action to the repetitive

inspections. Accomplishment of this

action would be in accordance with

Grob Service Bulletin (SB) 869–18,

dated March 7, 1996, and Grob SB 869–

18/2, dated July 8, 1996, which is a

revised page 6 of the Grob SB 869–18,

dated March 7, 1996.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were received on the

proposed rule or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA’s Determination

After careful review of all available

information related to the subject

presented above, the FAA has

determined that air safety and the

public interest require the adoption of

the rule as proposed except for minor

editorial corrections. The FAA has

determined that these minor corrections

will not change the meaning of the AD

and will not add any additional burden

upon the public than was already

proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 8 sailplanes

in the U.S. registry will be affected by

this AD, that it will take approximately

1 workhour per sailplane to accomplish

the initial inspection, and that the

average labor rate is approximately $60

an hour. Based on these figures, the total

cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators

is estimated to be $480 or $60 per

sailplane.

Grob has informed the FAA that parts

have been distributed to equip 7 of the

8 sailplanes in the United States, which

would reduce the estimated impact on

U.S. operators from $480 to $60.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (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. A copy of the final

evaluation prepared for this action is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained by contacting the

Rules Docket at the location provided

under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to 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:
62946 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 26, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

AD 97–24–09 Burkhart Grob, Luft-Und

Raumfahrt: Amendment 39–10216;

Docket No. 96–CE–37–AD.

Applicability: Model G 103 C Twin III SL

Sailplanes (serial numbers 35002 through

35051), certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each sailplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

sailplanes that have been modified, altered,

or repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment

of the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Note 2: The paragraph structure of this AD

is as follows:

Level 1: (a), (b), (c), etc.

Level 2: (1), (2), (3), etc.

Level 3: (i), (ii), (iii), etc.

Level 2 and Level 3 structures are

designations of the Level 1 paragraph they

immediately follow.

Compliance: Required as indicated in the

body of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent the loss of the sailplane engine

propeller and possible loss of the sailplane,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 5 engine operating

hours after the effective date of this AD, do

one of the following:

(1) Modify the propeller bearing and upper

pulley wheel by installing parts of improved

design in accordance with the ‘‘Actions: 2.’’

and the ‘‘Installation Instructions’’ sections of

Grob service bulletin (SB) 869–18, dated

March 7, 1996, and Grob SB 869–18/2, dated

July 8, 1996; or,

(2) Inspect the propeller bearing and upper

pulley wheel for increased play (movement

that exceeds or is equal to 0.4 mm) in

accordance with the ‘‘Actions’’ section of

Grob service bulletin (SB) 869–18, dated

March 7, 1996.

(i) If increased play is found, prior to

further flight, accomplish the modification in

paragraph (a)(1) of this AD or,

(ii) If no increased play is found, continue

to repetitively inspect for increased play in

the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel

every 5 engine operating hours in accordance

with the ‘‘Actions: 1.’’ section in Grob SB

869–18, dated March 7, 1996, and Grob SB

869–18/2, dated July 8, 1996. If increased

play is found during any inspection, then,

prior to further flight, accomplish the

modification in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.

(b) Accomplishing the modification in

paragraph (a)(1) of this AD is a terminating

action to the repetitive inspection required in

paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this AD. This

modification may be accomplished at any

time, but must be accomplished if increased

play is found.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the sailplane

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the initial or repetitive

compliance times that provides an equivalent

level of safety may be approved by the

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Airplane Certification Service, FAA, 1201

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri,

64106. The request shall be forwarded

through an appropriate FAA Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Small Airplane

Directorate.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(e) The inspections and modifications

required by this AD shall be done in

accordance with Burkhart Grob, Luft-und

Raumfahrt Service Bulletin 869–18, dated

March 7, 1996, and Burkhart Grob, Luft-und

Raumfahrt Service Bulletin 869–18/2, dated

July 8, 1996, which is a revised page six of

the Burkhart Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt

Service Bulletin 869–18, dated March 7,

1996. This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

Burkhart Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, D–86874

Mattsies, Germany. Copies may be inspected

at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th

Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office

of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Note 4: The subject of this AD addresses

German AD 96–206, April 4, 1996.

(f) This amendment (39–10216) becomes

effective on January 5, 1998.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

November 17, 1997.

Larry E. Werth,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–30869 Filed 11–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95–CE–95–AD; Amendment 39–

10215; AD 97–24–08]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart

Grob, Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH.

Model G102 Astir CS Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to Burkhart Grob, Luft-und

Raumfahrt, GmbH. (Grob) Model G102

Astir CS sailplanes. This action requires

replacing the elevator control lever with

an improved elevator control lever. The

discovery of cracks in the elevator

control lever during a routine inspection

of a Grob Model G102 Astir CS sailplane

prompted this action. This AD is the

result of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information (MCAI)

issued by the airworthiness authority for

Germany. The actions specified by this

AD are intended to prevent failure of the

elevator control lever, which could

result in loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: Effective January 5, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of January 5,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information that

applies to this AD may be obtained from

Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt, GmbH,

Postfach 1257, D–87712, Mindelheim,

Germany. This information may also be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket 95–CE–95–AD,

Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas

City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

J. Mike Kiesov, Project Officer,

Sailplanes, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service, FAA,

1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426–

6934; facsimile (816) 426–2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This

AD

A proposal to amend part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) to include an AD that would