3054 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules

issues in greater detail. For many of the

issues, the paper sets forth approaches

that the Department is considering and

may propose in the notice of proposed

rulemaking (NOPR). In addition, the

National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) has prepared a draft

set of test procedures for transformers,

and the Department is considering these

as well in preparing the NOPR. Copies

of the issues paper and the NIST draft

are available upon request.

The Department is particularly

interested in receiving at the workshop

comments and views of interested

parties concerning (1) the above-listed

issues, (2) the approaches the

Department is considering for

addressing these issues, (3) the NIST

draft of test procedures, and (4) possible

alternatives to the approaches the

Department is considering and to the

provisions in NIST’s draft test

procedures. The Department encourages

those who wish to participate in the

workshop to obtain the issue paper and

the NIST draft, and to make

presentations that address their

contents. Workshop participants need

not limit their statements to those

topics, however. The Department is

interested in receiving views concerning

other issues that participants believe

would affect the content of distribution

transformer test procedures.

The meeting will be conducted in an

informal, conference style. A court

reporter will be present to record the

minutes of the meeting. There shall be

no discussion of proprietary

information, costs or prices, market

shares, or other commercial matters

regulated by antitrust law. After the

meeting and a period for written

statements, the Department will

consider the views presented in

formulating a Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking regarding energy efficiency

test procedures for distribution

transformers.

If you would like to participate in the

workshop, to receive workshop

materials, or to be added to the DOE

mailing list to receive future notices and

information regarding distribution

transformers, please contact Ms. Brenda

Edwards-Jones at (202) 586–2945.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 14,

1998.

Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 98–1370 Filed 1–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–127–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Stemme

GmbH & Co. KG Models S10 and S10–

V Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG (Stemme)

Models S10 and S10–V sailplanes. The

proposed AD would require replacing

the horizontal stabilizer rear fittings

with parts of improved design. The

proposed AD is the result of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness

authority for Germany. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent structural failure of

the horizontal stabilizer caused by

cracked rear fittings, which could result

in reduced sailplane controllability.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–

127–AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG, Gustav-MeyerAllee 25, D–13355 Berlin, Germany;

telephone: 49.33.41.31.11.70; facsimile:

49.33.41.31.11.73. This information also

may be examined at the Rules Docket at

the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, Small

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service, FAA, 1201

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri

64106; telephone (816) 426–6934;

facsimile (816) 426–2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–CE–127–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–CE–127–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA),

which is the airworthiness authority for

Germany, notified the FAA that an

unsafe condition may exist on certain

Stemme S10 and S10–V sailplanes. The

LBA reports that operational loads are

causing internal stress on the welds of

the rear fitting of the horizontal

stabilizer of the above-referenced

sailplanes.

This condition, if not detected and

corrected, could result in failure of the

horizontal stabilizer with possible

reduced sailplane controllability.

Relevant Service Information

Stemme has issued Service Bulletin

No. A31–10–022, dated August 16,

1996, which specifies procedures for

inspecting the horizontal stabilizer rear

fittings for cracks and replacing any

cracked fittings with parts of improved

design obtained from Stemme; and also

specifies revising the maintenance

manual.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules 3055

The LBA classified this service

bulletin as mandatory and issued

German AD 96–300, effective October

24, 1996, in order to assure the

continued airworthiness of these

sailplanes in Germany.

The FAA’s Determination

This sailplane model is manufactured

in Germany and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the LBA has kept the FAA informed of

the situation described above.

The FAA has examined the findings

of the LBA; reviewed all available

information, including the service

information referenced above; and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Stemme Model S10

and S10–V sailplanes of the same type

design registered in the United States,

the FAA is proposing AD action. The

proposed AD would require replacing

the horizontal stabilizer rear fittings

with parts of improved design.

Accomplishment of the proposed

installation would be in accordance

with the service information previously

referenced.

Differences Between the Service

Bulletin, German AD, and This

Proposed AD

Stemme Service Bulletin No. A31–10–

022, dated August 16, 1996, and German

AD No. 96–300, effective October 24,

1996, both require inspecting the

horizontal stabilizer fittings for cracks

and replacing the fittings if found

cracked. Stemme Service Bulletin No.

A31–10–022 specifies changing the

maintenance manual to include

repetitive inspections of these fittings.

The FAA’s policy is to provide

corrective action that will eliminate the

need for repetitive inspections. The

FAA has determined that long-term

operational safety will be better assured

by design changes that remove the

source of the problem, rather than by

repetitive inspections or other special

procedures.

Because replacing the horizontal

stabilizer rear fittings with parts of

improved design on the affected

sailplanes eliminates the need for

repetitive inspections, the proposed AD

differs from the service bulletin and

German AD in that it would mandate

replacement of the horizontal stabilizer

rear fittings.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 9 sailplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 3 workhours per

sailplane to accomplish the proposed

replacement, and that the average labor

rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts

cost approximately $200 per sailplane.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $3,420.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would 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

proposal would 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) if

promulgated, 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 draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action has been placed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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:

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG: Docket No. 97–CE–

127–AD.

Applicability: The following sailplane

models and serial numbers, certificated in

any category:

Models Serial Nos.

S10 ............... 10–03 through 10–63.

S10V ............ 14–002 through 14–026 and

transformed S10V airplanes

with serial numbers of 14–

012M through 14–063M.

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 25

hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective

date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent structural failure of the

horizontal stabilizer caused by cracked rear

fittings, which could result in reduced

sailplane controllability, accomplish the

following:

(a) Replace the horizontal stabilizer rear

fittings with improved design fittings in

accordance with the instructions in Stemme

Service Bulletin No. A31–10–022, dated

August 16, 1996.

(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, FAA, 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 2: 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 Stemme Service Bulletin No. A31–

10–022 dated August 16, 1996, should be

directed to Stemme GmbH & Co. KG, GustavMeyer-Allee 25, D–13355 Berlin, Germany;
3056 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules

telephone: 49.33.41.31.11.70; facsimile:

49.33.41.31.11.73. 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

64106.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in German AD 96–300, dated October 24,

1996.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January

12, 1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–1298 Filed 1–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–ANE–47–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal

Inc. Model TPE331 Series Turboprop

Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

AlliedSignal Inc. Model TPE331 series

turboprop engines. This proposal would

require removal of suspect fuel manifold

assemblies and replacement with

serviceable assemblies. This proposal is

prompted by an FAA investigation into

Hoses Unlimited’s repairs of TPE331

fuel manifolds, which were not

approved by the FAA. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent fuel leakage at the

fuel manifold fittings, resulting in fuel

spraying on hot turbine components,

which could result in an engine fire.

DATES: Comments must be received by

March 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), New England

Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–ANE–47–AD, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803–

5299. Comments also may be submitted

to the Rules Docket by using the

following Internet address: ‘‘9-adengineprop@faa.dot.gov’’. All comments

must contain the Docket No. in the

subject line of the comment. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer,

Federal Aviation Administration,

Transport Airplane Directorate, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA

90712–4137; Telephone (562) 627–5246,

Fax (562) 627–5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–ANE–47–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, New England Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:

Rules Docket No. 97–ANE–28–AD, 12

New England Executive Park,

Burlington, MA 01803–5299.

Discussion

This proposed airworthiness directive

(AD) is applicable to AlliedSignal Inc.

Model TPE331–8, –10, –11 and –12

series turboprop engines with fuel

manifold, Part Number (P/N) 3102469–

1 or –2, repaired by Hoses Unlimited,

Inc. prior to November 11, 1995.

Following an FAA investigation into

Hoses Unlimited’s repairs of TPE331

fuel manifolds, which was not approved

by the agency, the FAA determined that

the repair processes were not consistent

and some manifolds were repaired using

procedures not approved and

substantiated by the FAA. The FAA

discovered that Hoses Unlimited

crimped fittings of unfamiliar

configuration with unsubstantiated

force causing excessive deformation of

the fitting and Teflon tube. Excessive

crimping of the tetraflourethelene hose

onto the fitting’s nipple causes reduced

fatigue resistance of the internal Teflon

tube. Reduced fatigue resistance may

lead to premature and unexpected

failure of the fuel hose. Although there

have been no reported incidents of fuel

leakage from fuel manifolds repaired by

Hoses Unlimited, this condition, if not

corrected, could result in fuel leakage of

the fuel manifold, resulting in fuel

spraying on hot turbine components,

which could result in an engine fire.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require removal of suspect fuel manifold

assemblies and replacement with

serviceable assemblies.

There are approximately 70 engines of

the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 50 engines

installed on aircraft of U.S. registry

would be affected by this proposed AD,

that it would take approximately 5 work

hours per engine to accomplish the

proposed actions, and that the average

labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts would cost

approximately $1,800 per engine. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $105,000.

The regulations proposed herein

would 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

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, will not have a significant

economic impact, positive or negative,

on a substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory