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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2910-2912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00667]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0013; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-046-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Airplanes

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 
GROB-WERKE Model G115EG airplanes. 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 cracks in the elevator trim tab arms on several Grob G 115 
airplanes, which could result in failure of the part and consequent 
loss of control. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 1, 2013.

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 service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Grob Aircraft AG, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, 
Germany; phone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; email: 
productsupport@grob-aircraft.de; Internet: www.grob-aircraft.com/index.php/g-115e.html. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
taylor.martin@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments

[[Page 2911]]

to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0013; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-046-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://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 AD 
No. 2012-0155, dated August 20, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    On several Grob G 115 aeroplanes, elevator trim tab arms Part 
Number (P/N) 115E-3758 have been found cracked, from a rear mounting 
hole (either L/H or R/H) to the rear edge of the trim tab arm.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
further crack propagation, possibly resulting in failure of the part 
and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires repetitive 
inspections of the elevator trim tab arm to detect cracks and, if 
detected, replacement of the part with a serviceable part.
    This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections.

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

Relevant Service Information

    Grob Aircraft has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-186/3, dated 
August 3, 2012. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 0 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $372 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $627 per product.

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),
    (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.

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

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 AD:

Grob-Werke: Docket No. FAA-2012-0013; Directorate Identifier 2012-
CE-046-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 1, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GROB-WERKE G115EG airplanes, all serial 
numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in the elevator 
trim tab arms on several Grob G 115 airplanes, which could result in 
failure of the part and consequent loss of control. We are issuing 
this proposed AD to detect cracks and prevent the part from failing.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions following Grob 
Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-186/3, dated August 3, 2012.
    (1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD and repetitively thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 200 hours TIS, inspect elevator trim tab arms, part 
number (P/N) 115E-3758, using a nondestructive testing (NDT) method 
such as a dye-penetrant or eddy-current.

    Note for paragraph (f)(1) of this AD:  There must be a more 
significant nondestructive testing (NDT) method of inspection beyond 
a visual inspection to accomplish the inspection requirements in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

    (2) If during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD a crack is found, before further flight, replace the 
affected elevator trim tab arm with an airworthy part.

[[Page 2912]]

    (3) Replacement at any time of an elevator trim tab arm with an 
airworthy part that has a P/N other than P/N 115E-3758, will 
terminate the repetitive requirement in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD provides credit for the actions required in this AD if 
already done before the effective date of this AD following Grob 
Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-186/2, dated March 28, 2012; 
Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-186/1, dated March 8, 
2012; or Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB1078-186, dated 
February 15, 2012.

(h) 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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
taylor.martin@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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2012-0155, dated August 20, 2012; and Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin 
No. MSB1078-186/3, dated August 3, 2012, for related information. 
For service information related to this AD, contact Grob Aircraft 
AG, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; 
phone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; email: 
productsupport@grob-aircraft.de; Internet: www.grob-aircraft.com/index.php/g-115e.html. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 8, 2013.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00667 Filed 1-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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