20308 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French AD 96–285(A), dated December 4,

1996.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on

May 22, 1998.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April

15, 1998.

James A. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10595 Filed 4–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–118–AD; Amendment

39–10489; AD 98–09–09]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Alexander

Schleicher GmbH Segelflugzeugbau

Model ASH–26E Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to certain Alexander Schleicher

GmbH Segelflugzeugbau (Alexander

Schleicher) Model ASH–26E sailplanes.

This AD requires replacing the internal

cooling air fan with a fan that

incorporates a certain modification.

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 internal cooling

system air fan caused by the impeller

slipping, which could result in loss of

compression and power and possible

engine failure.

DATES: Effective June 1, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 1,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information that

applies to this AD may be obtained from

Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau,

6416 Poppenhausen, Wasserkuppe,

Federal Republic of Germany;

telephone: 49.6658.890 or 49.6658.8920;

facsimile: 49.6658.8923 or

49.6658.8940. This information may

also be examined at the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA), Central

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–

118–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/Gliders, FAA, Small

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service, 1201 Walnut, suite

900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;

telephone: (816) 426–6932; 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 Alexander Schleicher Model

ASH–26E sailplanes was published in

the Federal Register as a notice of

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on

February 2, 1998 (63 FR 5322). The

NPRM proposed to require replacing the

internal cooling air fan with a fan that

incorporates a certain modification.

Accomplishment of the proposed action

as specified in the NPRM would be in

accordance with Alexander Schleicher

Technical Note No. 1, dated October 31,

1996; and Mid-West Engines Ltd.

Service Bulletin No. 001, dated October

5, 1996.

The NPRM was the result of

mandatory continuing airworthiness

information (MCAI) issued by the

airworthiness authority for Germany.

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

13 workhours per sailplane to

accomplish this action, and that the

average labor rate is approximately $60

an hour. Parts cost approximately $380

per sailplane. Based on these figures,

the total cost impact of this AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $9,280, or

$1,160 per sailplane.

Differences Between the Service

Bulletin, German AD, and This AD

Alexander Schleicher Technical Note

No. 1, dated October 31, 1996, specifies

in-flight temperature checks of the

internal cooling air fan during each

flight until the modification is

accomplished. German AD No. 97–009,

dated January 30, 1997, also requires

these in-flight checks until

accomplishment of the modification.

The FAA does not have justification

to require in-flight checks during each

flight through AD action. The FAA

suggests that the affected sailplane

owners/operators have these checks

accomplished, and the FAA is adding a

note to the AD to recommend such

action.

Compliance Time of this AD

The unsafe condition described in

this AD can happen at any time and is

not based on the number of hours the

sailplane is in operation. With this in

mind, the compliance of this AD is

presented in calendar time instead of

hours time-in-service (TIS).

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.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 20309

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:

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:

98–09–09 Alexander Schleicher

Segelflugzeugbau: Amendment 39–

10489; Docket No. 97–CE–118–AD.

Applicability: Model ASH–26E sailplanes,

all serial numbers, 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 (c) 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.

Compliance: Required within the next 6

calendar months after the effective date of

this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the internal cooling

system air fan caused by the impeller

slipping, which could result in loss of

compression and power and possible engine

failure, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the internal cooling air fan with

a fan that incorporates Modification Kit

R1K555A in accordance with Mid-West

Engines Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 001, dated

October 5, 1996, as referenced in Alexander

Schleicher Technical Note No. 1, dated

October 31, 1996.

Note 2: Modification Kit R1K555A

includes the following provisions:

—A positive lock between the fan and

spindle;

—A cable tie wrap for fan delivery duct

sealing; and

—A smaller driven pulley on the fan spindle.

Note 3: Although not required by this AD,

the FAA recommends accomplishing inflight temperature checks of the internal

cooling air fan during each flight until the

modification required by paragraph (a) of this

AD is incorporated. These in-flight

temperature checks are specified in

Alexander Schleicher Technical Note No. 1,

dated October 31, 1996, and are required by

German AD No. 97–009, dated January 30,

1997, for sailplanes on the German registry.

(b) 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.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Small Airplane

Directorate, 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 4: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(d) Questions or technical information

related to Alexander Schleicher Technical

Note No. 1, dated October 31, 1996; and MidWest Engines Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 001,

dated October 5, 1996, should be directed to

Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau, 6416

Poppenhausen, Wasserkuppe, Federal

Republic of Germany; telephone: 49.6658.890

or 49.6658.8920; facsimile: 49.6658.8923 or

49.6658.8940. This service information may

be examined at the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

(e) The replacement and modification

required by this AD shall be done in

accordance with Mid-West Engines Ltd.

Service Bulletin No. 001, dated October 5,

1996, as referenced in Alexander Schleicher

Technical Note No. 1, dated October 31,

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

from Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau,

6416 Poppenhausen, Wasserkuppe, Federal

Republic of 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 5: The subject of this AD is addressed

in German AD No. 97–009, dated January 30,

1997.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

June 1, 1998.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April

15, 1997.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10593 Filed 4–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–91–AD; Amendment 39–

10490; AD 98–09–10]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; EXTRA

Flugzeugbau GmbH Models EA–300

and EA–300S Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to all EXTRA Flugzeugbau

GmbH (EXTRA) Models EA–300 and

EA–300S airplanes. This AD requires

inspecting the rudder control cables to

assure that correctly swaged Nicopress

type sleeves are installed at each end of

the cables, and replacing any cable

assembly where correctly swaged

Nicopress type sleeves are not

installed. 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 a control cable from

pulling through an incorrectly swaged

sleeve, which could result in loss of

rudder control with consequent loss of

control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective June 7, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 7,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information that

applies to this AD may be obtained from

EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH, Flugplatz

Dinslaken, D–4224 Hu ̈nxe, Germany.

This information may also be examined

at the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–CE–91–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.

Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer,

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201

Walnut Street, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426–

6934; facsimile: (816) 426–2169.