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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11134-11136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04541]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-4231; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-042-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; BLANIK LIMITED Gliders

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 
BLANIK LIMITED Models L-13 Blanik and L-13 AC Blanik gliders (type 
certificate previously held by LET Aeronautical Works) that would 
supersede AD 2000-20-11. 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 insufficient material strength of the tail-fuselage 
attachment fitting. 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 April 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

[[Page 11135]]

     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 
BLANIK LIMITED, 2nd Floor Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 
2, Republic of Ireland; phone: +420 733 662 194; email: 
info@blanik.aero; Internet:  http://www.blanik.aero/%EF%BB%BFcustomer_support. You may review this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
4231; 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: 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:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-4231; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-042-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

    On September 28, 2000, we issued AD 2000-20-11, Amendment 39-11922 
(65 FR 60845; October 13, 2000) (``AD 2000-20-11''). That AD required 
actions intended to address an unsafe condition on BLANIK LIMITED Model 
L-13 Blanik gliders and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is 
the aviation authority for the Czech Republic. That MCAI (AD CAA-AD-T-
112/1999R1, dated November 23, 1999), was issued to correct an unsafe 
condition for EVECTOR, spol. s.r.o. Models L 13 SEH VIVAT and L 13 SDM 
VIVAT gliders and BLANIK LIMITED Models L-13 Blanik and L-13 AC Blanik 
gliders. The MCAI states:

    To prevent destruction of tail-fuselage attachment fitting which 
can lead to loss of control of the sailplane. This destruction could 
be caused due to lower strength of the material used during 
production.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
4231.
    A review of records since issuance of AD 2000-20-11 revealed that 
the FAA inadvertently did not address this MCAI for the EVECTOR, spol. 
s.r.o. Model L 13 SDM VIVAT gliders and the BLANIK LIMITED Model L-13 
AC Blanik gliders. This proposed AD would supersede AD 2000-20-11 to 
add the BLANIK LIMITED Model L-13 AC Blanik gliders to the 
applicability of the AD.
    The FAA will address the EVECTOR, spol. s.r.o. Model L 13 SDM VIVAT 
gliders in another AD action.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    LET Aeronautical Works has issued LET Mandatory Bulletin No.: L13/
085a, dated November 17, 1999. The service information describes 
procedures for testing the material strength of attachment fitting part 
number A 102 021 N and instructions for contacting the manufacturer for 
replacement information if necessary. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 124 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $42,160, or $340 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 16 work-hours and require parts costing $500, for a cost of 
$1,860 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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications

[[Page 11136]]

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 removing Amendment 39-11922 (65 FR 
60845; October 13, 2000), and adding the following new AD:

Blanik Limited: Docket No. FAA-2016-4231; Directorate Identifier 
2015-CE-042-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 18, 2016.

 (b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2000-20-11, Amendment 39-11922 (65 FR 60845; 
October 13, 2000) (``AD 2000-20-11'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to BLANIK LIMITED Models L-13 Blanik and L-13 AC 
Blanik gliders (type certificate previously held by LET Aeronautical 
Works), all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 53: Fuselage.

(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 insufficient 
material strength of the tail-fuselage attachment fitting. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct tail-fuselage fittings with 
insufficient material strength, which if left uncorrected could 
result in detachment of the tail from the fuselage with consequent 
loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, including all subparagraphs:
    (1) Model L-13 Blanik gliders:
    (i) Within the next 60 days after November 27, 2000 (the 
effective date retained from AD 2000-20-11), inspect the tail-
fuselage attachment fitting, part number (P/N) A 102 021 N, for 
damage and material hardness following the procedures in LET 
Mandatory Bulletin No.: L13/085a, dated November 17, 1999.
    (ii) If you find the tail-fuselage attachment fitting is damaged 
or the material does not meet the hardness requirements specified in 
the service bulletin during the inspection required in paragraph 
(f)(1)(i) of this AD, before further flight, you must contact the 
manufacturer to obtain an FAA-approved replacement part for P/N A 
102 021 N and FAA-approved installation instructions and install the 
replacement part. Use the contact information found in paragraph (h) 
to contact the manufacturer.
    (iii) As of November 27, 2000 (the effective date retained from 
AD 2000-20-11), do not install, on any glider, a P/N A 102 021 N 
attachment fitting that has not passed the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this AD.
    (2) Model L-13 AC Blanik gliders:
    (i) Within the next 60 days after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the tail-fuselage attachment fitting, part number (P/N) A 
102 021 N, for damage and material hardness following the procedures 
in LET Mandatory Bulletin No.: L13/085a, dated November 17, 1999.
    (ii) If you find the tail-fuselage attachment fitting is damaged 
or the material does not meet the hardness requirements specified in 
the service bulletin during the inspection required in paragraph 
(f)(2)(i) of this AD, before further flight, you must contact the 
manufacturer to obtain an FAA-approved replacement part for P/N A 
102 021 N and FAA-approved installation instructions and install the 
replacement part. Use the contact information found in paragraph (h) 
to contact the manufacturer.
    (iii) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install, on 
any glider, a P/N A 102 021N attachment fitting that has not passed 
the inspection required in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD.

(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) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Authority AD CAA-AD-T-112/1999R1, 
dated November 23, 1999, for related information. You may examine 
the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-4231. For service information 
related to this AD, contact BLANIK LIMITED, 2nd Floor Beaux Lane 
House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland; phone: 
+420 733 662 194; email: info@blanik.aero; Internet: http://www.blanik.aero/%EF%BB%BFcustomer_support. You may review this 
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 February 24, 2016.
Robert P. Busto,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04541 Filed 3-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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