3580 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 1995 / Proposed Rules

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:

Rules Docket No. 91–CE–25–AD, Room

1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA),

which is the airworthiness authority for

Germany, recently notified the FAA that

an unsafe condition may exist on

Alexander Schleicher Model ASK 21

gliders. The LBA advises that there have

been two instances where the parallel

rocker has broken at the elevator

connection on the affected gliders. A

broken parallel rocker, if not detected

and corrected, could result in loss of

elevator control.

Alexander Schleicher has issued ASK

21 Technical Note (TN) No. 22, dated

November 26, 1990, which specifies

procedures for replacing the parallel

rocker. The LBA has approved this

technical note, and issued LBA AD 90–

350 to assure the continued

airworthiness of these gliders in

Germany.

This glider 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, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Alexander Schleicher

Model ASK 21 gliders of the same type

design, this proposed AD would require

replacing the parallel rocker at the

automatic elevator connection with a

part of improved design, and

incorporating flight manual revisions.

The proposed action would be

accomplished in accordance with the

service information referenced above.

The compliance time of the proposed

AD is in calendar time instead of hours

time-in-service (TIS). The average

monthly usage of the affected gliders

ranges throughout the fleet. For

example, one owner may operate the

glider 25 hours TIS in one week, while

another operator may operate the glider

25 hours in one year. For this reason,

the FAA has determined that, in order

to ensure that all of the affected gliders

have parallel rockers of improved

design installed, a calendar compliance

time is proposed.

The FAA estimates that 35 gliders in

the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 1 workhour per airplane

to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $45 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $3,990. This figure is

based on the assumption that no

affected glider owner/operator has

accomplished the proposed

replacement.

Alexander Schleicher has informed

the FAA that improved design parallel

rockers have been distributed for all 35

affected gliders. Assuming that each of

these parts is installed on one of the

affected gliders, the proposed action

would not impose any cost impact upon

U.S. operators.

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. App. 1354(a), 1421

and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR

11.89.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new AD to read as follows:

Alexander Schleicher GMBH & Co.: Docket

No. 91–CE–25–AD.

Applicability: Model ASK 21 gliders (all

serial numbers), certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required within the next 30

calendar days after the effective date of this

AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent possible loss of elevator control

that could result from a broken parallel

rocker, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the parallel rocker with an

improved and stronger part (part number

99.000.4940 with modification status 1) in

accordance with the instructions in

Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 Technical Note

No. 22, dated November 26, 1991.

(b) Incorporate the flight manual revisions

included with the technical note referenced

above.

(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 glider 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, Small Airplane

Directorate, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request

should be forwarded through an appropriate

FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note: Information concerning the existence

of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(e) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the document referred

to herein upon request to Alexander

Schleicher GmbH & Company, D–36163,

Popppenhausen-Wasserkuppe, Germany; or

Eastern Sailplane, Heath Stage Route

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 01370;

telephone (413) 625–6059; or may examine

this document at the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room

1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January

10, 1995.

Barry D. Clements,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 95–1128 Filed 1–17–95; 8:45 am]

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