Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 1339 

1To view the interim rule, go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/ 

main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0111. 

PART 301—DOMESTIC QUARANTINE 

NOTICES 

■ Accordingly, we are adopting as a 

final rule, without change, the interim 

rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and 

that was published at 74 FR 47999– 

48001 on September 21, 2009. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of 

January 2011. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–227 Filed 1–7–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

7 CFR Part 301 

[Docket No. APHIS–2008–0111] 

Pine Shoot Beetle; Additions to 

Quarantined Areas 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as 

final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final 

rule, without change, an interim rule 

that amended the pine shoot beetle 

(PSB) regulations by adding the entire 

State of Ohio and counties in Maine and 

Indiana to the list of quarantined areas 

following the detection of PSB in those 

areas. The interim rule was necessary to 

prevent the spread of PSB, a pest of pine 

trees, into noninfested areas of the 

United States. 

DATES: Effective on January 10, 2011, we 

are adopting as a final rule the interim 

rule published at 74 FR 48003–48005 on 

September 21, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Brendon Reardon, National Program 

Manager, Emergency and Domestic 

Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 

Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; 

(301) 734–5705. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Pine shoot beetle (PSB) is a 

destructive forest pest that attacks both 

managed and natural stands of pine and 

especially affects weak and dying trees. 

The beetle has been found in a variety 

of pine species (Pinus spp.) in the 

United States. Scotch pine (P. sylvestris) 

is the pest’s preferred host. PSB has 

been reported to also occasionally attack 

other conifers such as fir (Abies spp.) 

and spruce (Picea spp.) at low levels. 

During ‘‘shoot feeding,’’ young beetles 

tunnel into the center of pine shoots 

(usually those from the current year’s 

growth), causing stunted and distorted 

growth in host trees. Large infestations 

of PSB typically kill most of the lateral 

shoots near the tops of trees. In 

addition, PSB is a vector of several 

diseases of pine trees. 

The regulations in 7 CFR 301.50 

through 301.50–10 (referred to below as 

the regulations) restrict the interstate 

movement of certain regulated articles 

from quarantined areas in order to 

prevent the spread of PSB into 

noninfested areas of the United States. 

In an interim rule 1 effective and 

published in the Federal Register on 

September 21, 2009 (74 FR 48003– 

48005, Docket No. APHIS–2008–0111), 

we amended the regulations by adding 

the entire State of Ohio and counties in 

Maine and Indiana to the list of 

quarantined areas in § 301.50–3(c). 

Comments on the interim rule were 

required to be received on or before 

November 20, 2009. We did not receive 

any comments. Therefore, for the 

reasons given in the interim rule, we are 

adopting the interim rule as a final rule 

without change. 

This action also affirms the 

information contained in the interim 

rule concerning Executive Order 12866 

and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 

Executive Orders 12372 and 12988, and 

the Paperwork Reduction Act. 

Further, for this action, the Office of 

Management and Budget has waived its 

review under Executive Order 12866. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301 

Agricultural commodities, Plant 

diseases and pests, Quarantine, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Transportation. 

PART 301—DOMESTIC QUARANTINE 

NOTICES 

■ Accordingly, we are adopting as a 

final rule, without change, the interim 

rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and 

that was published at 74 FR 48003– 

48005, on September 21, 2009. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of 

January 2011. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–230 Filed 1–7–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0646; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NM–223–AD; Amendment 

39–16558; AD 2011–01–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 727, 727C, 727–100, 

727–100C, 727–200, and 727–200F 

Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD requires 

repetitive detailed inspections of the aft 

pressure bulkhead web for cracking, and 

repair if necessary. For certain 

airplanes, this AD also provides for an 

optional preventative modification of 

the aft pressure bulkhead web, which 

would terminate certain repetitive 

detailed inspections. This AD was 

prompted by reports of cracks in the aft 

pressure bulkhead web. We are issuing 

this AD to detect and correct cracking in 

the aft pressure bulkhead web, which 

could adversely affect the structural 

integrity of the airplane, resulting in 

difficulty maintaining cabin 

pressurization or rapid decompression 

of the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective February 14, 

2011. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of February 14, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

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. 

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 


wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with RULES_PART 1
1340 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6577; fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an airworthiness 

directive (AD) that would apply to the 

specified products. That NPRM was 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 1, 2010 (75 FR 38066). That NPRM 

proposed to require repetitive detailed 

inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead 

web for cracking, and repair if 

necessary. For certain airplanes, that 

NPRM also proposed an optional 

preventative modification of the aft 

pressure bulkhead web, which would 

terminate certain repetitive detailed 

inspections. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following paragraphs present the 

comments received on the proposal and 

the FAA’s response to each comment. 

Request To Rephrase Unsafe Condition 

Statement in the AD 

Boeing requested that we change the 

second sentence of paragraph (e) of the 

AD to state that the FAA ‘‘is issuing this 

AD to detect and repair cracking, or to 

modify structure to prevent cracking, in 

the aft pressure bulkhead web * * *’’ 

The commenter stated that the original 

paragraph specified that the AD is being 

issued ‘‘to prevent cracking,’’ whereas 

the AD provides modification 

instructions to prevent cracking, as well 

as instructions to repair cracking, and 

the requested language is more correct. 

We partially agree with the 

commenter’s request. We agree to 

change the AD to say ‘‘detect and correct 

cracking’’ because the AD provides those 

instructions, and we have changed 

paragraph (e) accordingly. We disagree 

with including ‘‘modify structure to 

prevent cracking’’ because the AD does 

not mandate the preventive 

modification. The modification to 

prevent cracking is available as an 

option in the AD and in Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009, the 

service information referenced in the 

NPRM; we have made no further change 

to the AD in this regard. 

Request To Remove Description From 

Paragraph (g) of the AD 

Boeing requested that we remove 

‘‘* * * in the area around the hydraulic 

line support bracket on the left side 

***’’ from paragraph (g) of the AD. 

The commenter stated that airplanes in 

Group 1, Configuration 2, do not have 

that hydraulic bracket installed, and 

therefore cannot be inspected ‘‘around 

the bracket.’’ Boeing stated further that 

the service bulletin specifies an 

inspection in the entire bay of the web, 

and the requested change would cover 

all the subject airplanes and prevent 

confusion. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request, for the reasons given, and we 

have changed paragraph (g) of the AD 

accordingly. 

Request To Correct Table Reference in 

Paragraph (g)(2) of the AD 

Boeing requested that in paragraph 

(g)(2) of the NPRM we refer only to 

Table 2 of paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ 

in Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 727–53–0232, dated September 

23, 2009, for the applicable compliance 

time. The commenter stated that 

paragraph (g)(2) of the AD covers only 

airplanes of Group 1, Configuration 2, 

which are addressed only in Table 2 of 

paragraph 1.E. of that service bulletin. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request, for the reasons given, and we 

have changed paragraph (g)(2) of the AD 

accordingly. We have also changed 

paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this AD to only 

refer to Table 1 of paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009. 

Clarification of Terminating Action 

We have clarified that for Group 1, 

Configuration 1 airplanes, and Group 2 

airplanes, as identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727– 

53–0232, dated September 23, 2009, 

doing the repair specified in paragraph 

(h) of the AD terminates the repetitive 

inspections required by paragraph 

(g)(1)(ii) of the AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

with the changes described previously. 

We also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 243 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The following 

table provides the estimated costs for 

U.S. operators to comply with this AD. 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour 

Parts Cost per product 

Number of U.S.- 

registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Detailed inspection, per 

inspection cycle.

1 $85 None ................. $85, per inspection cycle.243 ................... $20,655, per inspection cycle. 

Preventative modification 4 85 Negligible 1 ........ $340 ................. Up to 243 .......... Up to $82,620. 

1The cost of material for the modification would depend on the size and location of the repair; the materials necessary for the modification are 

standard shop materials that would be provided out of the operator’s stock. 

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 


wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with RULES_PART 1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 1341 

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 

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 

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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2011–01–05 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–16558; Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0646; Directorate Identifier 

2009–NM–223–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This AD is effective February 14, 2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 727, 727C, 727–100, 727– 

100C, 727–200, and 727–200F series 

airplanes, certificated in any category. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53: Fuselage. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from reports of cracks 

in the aft pressure bulkhead web. The 

Federal Aviation Administration is issuing 

this AD to detect and correct cracking in the 

aft pressure bulkhead web, which could 

adversely affect the structural integrity of the 

airplane, resulting in difficulty maintaining 

cabin pressurization or rapid decompression 

of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Repetitive Inspections and Corrective 

Actions 

(g) At the applicable initial compliance 

time specified in Tables 1 and 2 of paragraph 

1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 727–53–0232, 

dated September 23, 2009; except as 

provided by paragraph (j) of this AD: Perform 

a detailed inspection for cracking on the aft 

side of the aft pressure bulkhead web 

between water line (WL) 217 to WL 230, and 

buttock line (BL) 48 left to BL 66 left. Do the 

inspection in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009. 

(1) For Group 1, Configuration 1 airplanes, 

and Group 2 airplanes, as identified in 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

727–53–0232, dated September 23, 2009: If 

no cracking is found during the inspection 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, do the 

actions specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i) or 

(g)(1)(ii) of this AD in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009. 

(i) Accomplish the preventative 

modification specified in Part 3 of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009, before 

further flight. 

(ii) Repeat the detailed inspection at the 

applicable interval specified in Table 1 of 

paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009. 

Accomplishing the preventative modification 

specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD 

terminates the repetitive inspections required 

by this paragraph. 

(2) For Group 1, Configuration 2 airplanes, 

as identified in Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 727–53–0232, dated 

September 23, 2009: If no cracking is found 

during the inspection required by paragraph 

(g) of this AD, repeat the detailed inspection 

at the applicable interval specified in Table 

2 of paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009. 

Note 1: The damage tolerance inspections 

specified in Table 3 of paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 727–53–0232, dated 

September 23, 2009, may be used in support 

of compliance with section 121.1109(c)(2) or 

129.109(c)(2) of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR 121.1109(c)(2) or 14 CFR 

129.109(c)(2)). 

(h) If any crack is found during any 

inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD, before further flight, repair in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

727–53–0232, dated September 23, 2009; 

except as provided by paragraph (i) of this 

AD. For Group 1, Configuration 1 airplanes, 

and Group 2 airplanes, as identified in 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

727–53–0232, dated September 23, 2009: 

Accomplishing this repair terminates the 

repetitive inspections required by paragraph 

(g)(1)(ii) of this AD. 

(i) If any cracking is found during any 

inspection required by this AD, and Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 727–53– 

0232, dated September 23, 2009, specifies to 

contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before 

further flight, repair the cracking using a 

method approved in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (k) of this 

AD. 

(j) Where Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 727–53–0232, dated September 23, 

2009, specifies a compliance time after the 

date on that service bulletin, this AD requires 

compliance within the specified compliance 

time after the effective date of this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), 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: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 917–6577; fax (425) 

917–6590. Information may be e-mailed to: 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Before using any approved AMOC on 

any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 

notify your principal maintenance inspector 

(PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), 

as appropriate, or lacking a principal 

inspector, your local Flight Standards District 

Office. The AMOC approval letter must 

specifically reference this AD. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD if it is approved by the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO 

to make those findings. For a repair method 

to be approved, the repair must meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 


wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with RULES_PART 1
1342 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

Related Information 

(l) For more information about this AD, 

contact Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 917–6577; fax (425) 

917–6590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(m) You must use Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 727–53–0232, dated 

September 23, 2009, to do the actions 

required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 

otherwise. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(3) 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. 

(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 Renton, Washington, on 

December 17, 2010. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–188 Filed 1–7–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–28435 Directorate 

Identifier 2007–CE–054–AD; Amendment 

39–16556; AD 2011–01–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; GROB– 

WERKE GMBH & CO KG Models G102 

ASTIR CS, G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 

CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 

STANDARD ASTIR III Gliders 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. 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: 

As a result of the replacement action of the 

G 103 TWIN ASTIR spar spigot assemblies, 

the Gliding Federation of Australia issued a 

directive to inspect the similar main spigots 

of single-seater sailplanes. 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to correct the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 14, 2011. 

On February 14, 2011, the Director of 

the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in this AD. 

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 Grob Aircraft; 

Lettenbachstr. 9; TussenhausenMattsies; Head of Customer Service & 

Support, Germany; telephone: +49 (0) 

8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; 

E-mail: productsupport@grobaircraft.com; Web site: http://www.grobaircraft.com. 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ONE

OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Jim Rutherford, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 

(816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 329–4090. 

• Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329– 

4130; fax: (816) 329–4090. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

History of AD Actions 

When the State of Design issues MCAI 

against a product that is certificated for 

operation in the United States, the FAA 

evaluates this information and either 

issues a corresponding U.S. AD or 

completes a no action required (NAR) 

form. In 1988, the FAA’s Brussels, 

Belgium office evaluated MCAIs. When 

the Brussels office determined an AD 

was necessary, the corresponding 

Directorate issued an AD for the 

product. NAR forms were completed by 

the Brussels office. When a NAR form 

was completed, the Directorates did not 

always receive a copy since they were 

not required to take action. 

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), 

which is the airworthiness authority for 

Germany, issued AD 88–176 Grob, dated 

August 15, 1988, to apply to the GROB– 

WERKE GMBH & CO KG G103 twin-seat 

gliders. That AD required inspection 

and replacement of the spar spigot 

assembly to prevent fatigue failure of 

the spigot. The FAA issued AD 90–02– 

09 (55 FR 269, January 4, 1990), 

effective February 5, 1990, to mandate 

replacement of the spigot assembly for 

the G103 twin-seat versions of the 

glider. 

The LBA issued 91–5/2 Grob, dated 

February 1, 1991, to apply to the GROB– 

WERKE GMBH & CO KG G102 singleseat gliders. The MCAI states: 

As a result of the replacement action of the 

G 103 TWIN ASTIR spar spigot assemblies, 

the Gliding Federation of Australia issued a 

directive to inspect the similar main spigots 

of single-seater sailplanes. 

The MCAI requires you to inspect the 

wing main spigot assembly before the 

next flight and replace it on the G102 

single-seat gliders. You may obtain 

further information by examining the 

MCAI in the AD docket. 

The FAA inadvertently did not issue 

an AD on the single-seat versions at the 

time the LBA issued AD 91–5/2 Grob. 

The FAA finds no AD or NAR 

information to correspond with German 

AD 91–5/2 Grob from that time period. 

In 1997/1998, the responsibility to 

evaluate MCAIs transferred from 

Brussels to the Directorates. The 

Directorates assimilated all of the 

Brussels information into the 

Directorate information, identifying if 

ADs were issued, if NAR forms were 

completed, or if neither action was 

taken. During this time, the Small 

Airplane Directorate issued a total of 

310 AD actions in fiscal year (FY) 1998. 

This was an increase of 79 percent over 

the 173 total actions issued in FY–97, 

and a 121 percent increase over the 140 

total actions issued in FY–96. This 

workload increase contributed to the 

FAA not identifying the German AD 91– 

5/2 Grob as an item without a U.S. AD 

or NAR correspondence associated with 

it. 


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