21400 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 10, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

28–2148, Revision 03, dated June 2, 2009, 

have been accomplished; and have 

modification 07633 done in production; or 

on which the actions specified in Airbus 

Service Bulletin A310–36–2015 have been 

done; no further action is required by this 

AD. 

(m) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for 

modifications required by paragraphs (g), (i), 

(j), and (k) of this AD, if the modifications 

were performed before the effective date of 

this AD using Airbus Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A310–28–2148, Revision 04, dated 

April 14, 2010. 

(n) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–2125; fax (425) 

227–1149. Information may be emailed to: 

9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. AMOCs approved previously in 

accordance with AD 2008–01–05, 

Amendment 39–15330 (73 FR 2795, January 

16, 2008), are approved as AMOCs for the 

corresponding provisions of this AD. 

(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. 

(o) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) Airworthiness Directive 

2011–0005, dated January 17, 2011, and the 

following service information for related 

information. 

(1) Airbus Service Bulletin A310–28–2148, 

Revision 01, dated October 29, 2002. 

(2) Airbus Service Bulletin A310–28–2148, 

Revision 02, dated March 9, 2007. 

(3) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A310–28–2148, Revision 05, dated August 3, 

2010. 

(4) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A310–28–2148, Revision 06, dated August 

31, 2011. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the following service information 

under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on May 15, 2012. 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A310–28–2148, Revision 05, dated August 3, 

2010. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A310–28–2148, Revision 06, dated August 

31, 2011. 

(4) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on February 20, 2008 (73 

FR 2795, January 16, 2008). 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A310–28–2148, 

Revision 02, dated March 9, 2007. 

(5) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on September 3, 2004 (69 

FR 45578, July 30, 2004). 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A310–28–2148, 

Revision 01, dated October 29, 2002. 

(6) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS—EAW 

(Airworthiness Office), 1 Rond Point Maurice 

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; 

telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 

93 44 51; email account.airwortheas@airbus.com; Internet http:// 

www.airbus.com. 

(7) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(8) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

26, 2012. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8220 Filed 4–9–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1342; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–CE–038–AD; Amendment 

39–16996; AD 2012–06–15] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Sailplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG–500 

Elan Orion, DG–500 Elan Trainer, DG– 

500/20 Elan, and DG–500/22 Elan 

sailplanes and Models DG–500M and 

DG–500MB powered sailplanes. This 

AD results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

issued 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 incorrect re-installation of 

the rear cockpit securing rope for the 

headrest of the rear seat during 

maintenance, which could cause the 

rear seat to interfere with the control 

stick of the sailplane. We are issuing 

this AD to require actions to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective May 15, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in the AD 

as of May 15, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact DG Flugzeugbau 

GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 

Bruchsal, Federal Republic of Germany; 

telephone: +49 (0) 7251 3020140; fax: 

+49 (0) 7251 3020149; Internet: http:// 

www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/techmitteilungen-e.html; email: dirks@dgflugzeugbau.de. 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. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 10, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 21401 

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 

We issued a supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to 

amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD 

that would apply to the specified 

products. That SNPRM was published 

in the Federal Register on January 17, 

2012 (77 FR 2236). That SNPRM 

proposed to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

Several occurrences have been reported of 

incorrect re-installation of rear cockpit 

securing rope for the headrest of the rear seat 

during maintenance. In one of these 

occurrences, the aeroplane suffered an 

accident. The technical investigations 

following this accident have revealed that the 

rear cockpit headrest securing rope was too 

long, which caused the rear seat to interfere 

with the control stick of the aeroplane. 

This condition if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to loss of control of the 

aeroplane. 

To address this unsafe condition, DG 

Flugzeugbau have developed a modification 

to be accomplished in accordance with the 

Working Instruction No. 1 for Technical Note 

(TN) 348/20 in issue 3, dated 13 September 

2011, for the English language version and in 

issue 2, dated 22 October 2008, for the 

German language version (English version 

revised at issue 3 to correct a translation 

discrepancy), which aims to prevent wrong 

re-installation of the headrest securing rope. 

TN 500/05 embodies this Working 

Instruction. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

requires a one-time inspection of the length 

of the rear cockpit headrest securing rope 

and, in case of discrepancy, readjustment of 

the length. In addition, this AD requires the 

installation of a modified headrest securing 

rope with snap hook. 

You may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

received no comments on the SNPRM 

(77 FR 2236, January 17, 2012) or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed except for minor editorial 

changes. We have determined that these 

minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the SNPRM (77 FR 

2236, January 17, 2012) for correcting 

the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the SNPRM (77 FR 2236, 

January 17, 2012). 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

16 products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take about 2.5 workhours per product to comply with the 

basic requirements of this AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts will cost about $1,088 

per product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to 

be $20,808, or $1,300.50 per product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions will take 

about 0.5 work-hour, for a cost of $42.50 

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 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 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. 

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 the SNPRM (77 FR 

2236, January 17, 2012), 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. 

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: 

2012–06–15 DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: 

Amendment 39–16996; Docket No. 

FAA–2011–1342; Directorate Identifier 

2011–CE–038–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective May 15, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 

Models DG–500 Elan Orion, DG–500 Elan 

Trainer, DG–500/20 Elan, and DG–500/22 

Elan sailplanes and Models DG–500M and 

DG–500MB powered sailplanes, all serial 

numbers, that are: 

(i) Equipped with a headrest on the rear 

seat; and 

(ii) Certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 25: Equipment/Furnishing 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
21402 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 10, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

(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 incorrect 

re-installation of the rear cockpit securing 

rope for the headrest of the rear seat during 

maintenance. We are issuing this AD to 

correct the length of the rear cockpit headrest 

securing rope, which if too long, could cause 

the rear seat to interfere with the control stick 

of the sailplane and could result in loss of 

control of the sailplane. 

(f) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, do the following 

actions: 

(1) Within the next 30 days after May 15, 

2012 (the effective date of this AD), inspect 

the rear cockpit headrest securing rope to 

determine the length. Do the inspection as 

specified in Instruction No. 2 of DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note No. 500/ 

05, dated September 19, 2011. 

(i) If the length of the rear cockpit headrest 

securing rope is more than 450 millimeters 

(mm) or less than 400 mm, before further 

flight after the inspection required in 

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, adjust the length 

of the rear cockpit headrest securing rope to 

a length between 400 mm and 450 mm as 

shown in Sketch 2 of DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 

Working Instruction No. 1 for TN348/20, 

Issue 3, dated September 13, 2011. After 

doing the adjustment, do the action required 

in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. 

(ii) If the length of the rear cockpit headrest 

securing rope is between 400 mm and 450 

mm, do the action required in paragraph 

(f)(2) of this AD. 

(2) Within 3 months after May 15, 2012 

(the effective date of this AD), replace the 

rear cockpit headrest securing rope with a 

rear cockpit headrest securing rope with a 

snap hook. Do the replacement following DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Working Instruction No. 

1 for TN348/20, Issue 3, dated September 13, 

2011, as specified in Instruction No. 3 of DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note No. 500/ 

05, dated September 19, 2011. 

(3) Replacement of the rear cockpit 

headrest securing rope with a rear cockpit 

headrest securing rope with a snap hook 

done before May 15, 2012 (the effective date 

of this AD) following DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 

Working Instruction No. 1 for TN348/20, 

Issue 2, is considered acceptable for 

compliance with paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. 

(4) Although the European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) MCAI and DG Flugzeugbau 

GmbH Technical Note No. 500/05, dated 

September 19, 2011, allows the inspection 

required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD to be 

done by a pilot-owner, the U.S. regulatory 

system requires all actions required by this 

AD be done by a certified mechanic. 

(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 sailplane 

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. 

(h) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2011–0191, 

dated September 30, 2011; DG Flugzeugbau 

GmbH Technical Note No. 500/05, dated 

September 19, 2011; and DG Flugzeugbau 

GmbH Working Instruction No. 1 for TN348/ 

20, Issue 3, dated September 13, 2011, for 

related information. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(i) DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note 

No. 500/05, dated September 19, 2011, and 

(ii) DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Working 

Instruction No. 1 for TN348/20, Issue 3, 

dated September 13, 2011. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, 

Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 Bruchsal, 

Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: +49 

(0) 7251 3020140; fax: +49 (0) 7251 3020149; 

Internet: http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/techmitteilungen-e.html; email: dirks@dgflugzeugbau.de. 

(3) You may review copies of the 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. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

19, 2012. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7003 Filed 4–9–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1113; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–53–AD; Amendment 39– 

17005; AD 2012–06–24] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Model S–92A helicopters. This AD was 

prompted by the discovery of tail rotor 

blade assemblies (blades) manufactured 

with mislocated aluminum wire mesh, 

leaving portions of the graphite torque 

tube (spar) region unprotected from a 

lightning strike. The actions are 

intended to detect mislocated blade 

wire mesh and to prevent spar 

delamination, loss of the blade tip cap 

during a lightning strike, blade 

imbalance, loss of a blade, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective May 15, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of May 15, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, 

Commercial Technical Support, 

mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, 

Stratford, CT 06614; telephone (800) 

562–4409; email 


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