[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31368-31370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15204]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-02-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher


Segelflugzeugbau Models K 8 and K 8 B Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to all Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau 
(Alexander Schleicher) Models K 8 and K 8 B sailplanes. The proposed AD 
would require inspecting the canopy hood lock assembly to assure that 
the height of the cam is at least 2 millimeters (mm), and modifying or 
replacing any canopy hood lock assembly where the cam is less than 2 mm 
in height. 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 the canopy from coming open in flight because the height of the 
locking cam is less than 2 mm, which could result in loss of the canopy 
with consequent pilot injury.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-02-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 Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 Poppenhausen, 
Wasserkuppe, Federal Republic of Germany. This information also may be 
examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Project Officer, 
Sailplanes/Gliders, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 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. 98-CE-02-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

[[Page 31369]]

FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 98-CE-02-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 all 
Alexander Schleicher Models K 8 and K 8 B sailplanes. The LBA reports 
that the fabrication of the canopy lock cam may be incorrect. In 
particular, the height of the canopy locking cam may be less than 2 mm. 
If the height of the locking cam is not at least 2 mm, then the canopy 
may come open in flight.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of the 
canopy with possible pilot injury.

Relevant Service Information

    Alexander Schleicher has issued Technical Note No. 21, dated May 
12, 1980, which specifies procedures for (1) inspecting the canopy 
locking cam to assure that a height of at least 2 mm exists; and (2) 
modifying any canopy locking cam where the height is less than 2 mm.
    The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
German AD 80-158, dated June 16, 1980, 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 Alexander Schleicher Models K 8 and K 8 B 
sailplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the 
FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require inspecting 
the canopy hood lock assembly to assure that the height of the cam is 
at least 2 mm, and modifying or replacing any canopy hood lock assembly 
where the cam is less than 2 mm in height. Accomplishment of the 
proposed action would be in accordance with Alexander Schleicher 
Technical Note No. 21, dated May 12, 1980.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    Although the canopy opening would only be unsafe during flight, the 
condition specified in the proposed AD is not a result of the number of 
times the sailplane is operated. The chance of this situation occurring 
is the same for a sailplane with 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) as it 
would be for a sailplane with 500 hours TIS. For this reason, the FAA 
has determined that a compliance based on calendar time should be 
utilized in this AD in order to assure that the unsafe condition is 
addressed on all sailplanes in a reasonable time period.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 100 sailplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 
workhour per sailplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that 
the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. No parts would be required 
to accomplish the modification. Parts would cost $50 per sailplane if 
the replacement option is chosen over the modification. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $11,000, or $110 per sailplane if the replacement 
option is chosen; or $6,000, or $60 per sailplane if the modification 
option is chosen.

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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau: Docket No. 98-CE-02-AD.

    .Applicability: Models K 8 and K 8 B 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 (d) 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent the canopy from coming open in flight because the 
height of the locking cam is less than 2 millimeters (mm), which 
could result in loss of the canopy with consequent pilot injury, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 3 calendar months after the effective date 
of this AD, inspect the canopy hood lock assembly to assure that the 
height of the cam is at least 2 mm, in accordance with Alexander 
Schleicher Technical Note No. 21, dated May 12, 1980.
    (b) Prior to further flight after the inspection required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD, accomplish one of the following, if 
applicable:
    (1) Modify (file) any canopy hood lock assembly where the cam is 
less than 2 mm

[[Page 31370]]

in height, in accordance with Alexander Schleicher Technical Note 
No. 21, dated May 12, 1980; and apply a corrosion preventative 
(alodine or equivalent substitute); or
    (2) Replace any canopy hood lock assembly where the cam is less 
than 2 mm in height, in accordance with the applicable maintenance 
manual.
    (c) 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 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.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to Alexander 
Schleicher Technical Note No. 21, dated May 12, 1980, should be 
directed to Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 
Poppenhausen, 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 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD No. 80-
158, dated June 16, 1980.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1, 1998.
Ronald K. Rathgeber,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-15204 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P