[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58100-58103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19942]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-19-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BURKHARDT GROB LUFT-UND RAUMFAHRT GmbH 
& CO KG Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, G103A TWIN II ACRO, G103C 
TWIN III ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2004-08-13, which applies to certain BURKHARDT GROB LUFT-UND RAUMFAHRT 
GmbH & CO KG (Grob) Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, G103 TWIN III 
ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL sailplanes. AD 2004-08-13 currently 
requires you to replace the center of gravity (CG) release hook 
attachment brackets with brackets of improved design. This proposed AD 
results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. This proposed AD 
would retain all the actions required in AD 2004-08-13 and add Model 
G103A TWIN II ACRO sailplanes to the applicability. The actions 
specified by this proposed AD are to prevent abnormal or uncontrolled 
sailplane release due to cracked CG release hook attachment brackets. 
This condition could result in reduced or loss of sailplane control.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by November 9, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
    <bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact BURKHARDT GROB LUFT-UND RAUMFAHRT GmbH & CO KG, 
Letenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; telephone: 
011 49 8268 998139; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998200.
    To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. 
The docket number is FAA-2005-20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-19-
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. 
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include the 
docket number, ``FAA-2005-20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-19-AD'' 
at the

[[Page 58101]]

beginning of your comments. We will post all comments we receive, 
without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone 
can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
This is docket number FAA-2005-20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
19-AD. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.

Docket Information

    Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD 
docket that contains this proposal, any comments received, and any 
final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m. (eastern standard time), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is 
located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF 
Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view 
the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    Has FAA taken any action to this point? Reports of cracks found in 
the center of gravity (CG) release hook attachment brackets caused us 
to issue AD 2004-08-13, Amendment 39-13582 (69 FR 21402, April 21, 
2004). AD 2004-08-13 applies to Grob Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN 
II, G103 TWIN III ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL sailplanes. That AD 
currently requires you to replace the center of gravity (CG) release 
hook attachment brackets with brackets of improved design.
    What has happened since AD 2004-08-13 to initiate this proposed 
action? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Germany, notified FAA of the need to change AD 2004-08-
13. The LBA reports that the actions required in AD 2004-08-13 should 
also apply to Model G103A TWIN II ACRO sailplanes.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? A cracked CG 
release hook attachment bracket, if not prevented, could lead to 
abnormal or uncontrolled sailplane release. This condition could result 
in reduced or loss of sailplane control.
    Is there new service information that applies to this subject? Grob 
has issued Service Bulletin No. MSB315-62/2, dated March 9, 2005.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for inspecting and replacing the CG 
release hook attachment brackets for Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN 
II, G103A TWIN II ACRO, and G103C TWIN III ACRO sailplanes.
    What action did the LBA take? The LBA previously classified Grob 
Service Bulletin No. MSB315-62, dated January 21, 2002, as mandatory 
and issued German AD No. 2002-067, effective date: March 21, 2002, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.
    Did the LBA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These Grob Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN 
II, G103A TWIN II ACRO, G103C TWIN III ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL 
sailplanes are manufactured in Germany and are 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.
    Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? We have examined the LBA's findings, 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 the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other Grob Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, G103A 
TWIN II ACRO, G103C TWIN III ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL sailplanes of 
the same type design that are registered in the United States, we are 
proposing AD action to prevent abnormal or uncontrolled sailplane 
release due to cracked CG release hook attachment brackets. This 
condition could result in reduced or loss of sailplane control.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would 
supersede AD 2004-08-13, Amendment 39-13582 (69 FR 21402, April 21, 
2004) with a new AD. This proposed AD would retain the actions exactly 
and currently required in AD 2008-08-13 actions for Models G103 TWIN 
ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, G103C TWIN III ACRO, and G103C Twin III SL 
sailplanes and would add Model G103A TWIN II ACRO sailplanes to the 
applicability.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On 
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation 
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material 
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is 
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD 
actions.

Costs of Compliance

    How many sailplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 136 sailplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected sailplanes? We estimate the following costs 
to do this proposed replacement:

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                                                          Total cost
                Labor cost                  Parts cost        per            Total cost on U.S.  operators
                                                           sailplane
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2 workhours x $65 per hour = $130........          $67          $197   $197 x 136 = $26,792.
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[[Page 58102]]

    What is the difference between the cost impact of this proposed AD 
and the cost impact of AD 2004-08-13? The only difference between the 
cost impact of AD 2004-08-13 and this proposed AD is the addition of 
Model G103A TWIN II ACRO sailplanes to the applicability. There is no 
difference in the cost to do the proposed required actions.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
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 
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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined 
that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
AD:
    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. 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD 
(and other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket FAA-2005-20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-19-AD'' in 
your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 2004-08-13, Amendment 39-13582 (69 FR 21402, April 21, 2004), and 
by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Burkhardt Grob Luft-Und Raumfahrt GmBH & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2005-
20803; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-19-AD; supersedes AD 2004-08-
13, Amendment 39-13582.

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) by November 9, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-08-13, Amendment 39-13582.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following model sailplanes, all serial 
numbers, that are certificated in any category:

                                 Models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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(1) G103 TWIN ASTIR
(2) G103 TWIN II
(3) G103A TWIN II ACRO
(3) G103C TWIN III ACRO
(4) G 103 C Twin III SL
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What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Germany. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent abnormal or 
uncontrolled sailplane release due to cracked center of gravity (CG) 
release hook attachment brackets. This condition could result in 
reduced or loss of sailplane control.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

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           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Replace the CG release
 hook attachment brackets
 with improved design
 brackets, as follows:
    (i) For Models G103 TWIN
     ASTIR, G103 TWIN II,
     G103A TWIN II ACRO, and
     G103C TWIN III ACRO
     sailplanes: install new
     part number (P/N) 103B-
     2360.01/1 or 103B--
     2360.01/2 and P/N 103B-
     2360.02/1 or 103B-2360-
     02/2; and
    (ii) For Model G103 TWIN
     ASTIR sailplanes:
     install an additional
     plate, P/N 103-2360.02
     below each attachment
     bracket; and

[[Page 58103]]

 
    (iii) For Model G 103 C   For sailplanes        For Models G103 TWIN
     Twin III SL sailplanes:   previously affected   ASTIR, G103 TWIN
     install new P/N 103B-     by AD 2004-08-13:     II, G103A TWIN II
     2360.01/2 and P/N 103B-   Within the next 25    ACRO, and G103C
     2360.02/2.                hours time-in-        TWIN III ACRO
                               service (TIS) after   sailplanes: Follow
                               June 4, 2004 (the     Grob Service
                               effective date of     Bulletin No. MSB315-
                               AD 2004-08-13),       62, dated January
                               unless already        21, 2002, or Grob
                               done. For             Service Bulletin
                               sailplanes not        No. MSB315-62/2,
                               previously affected   dated March 9,
                               by AD 2004-08-13:     2005. For Model G
                               Within the next 25    103 C Twin III SL
                               hours time-in-        sailplanes: Follow
                               service (TIS) after   Grob Service
                               the effective date    Bulletin No. MSB869-
                               of this AD, unless    22, dated January
                               already done.         22, 2002.
(2) Do not install any CG     As of the effective   Not Applicable.
 release hook attachment       date of this AD.
 bracket that is not a part
 number referenced in
 paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and
 (e)(1)(iii) of this AD, as
 applicable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Standards Office, Small 
Airplane Directorate, FAA. For information on any already approved 
alternative methods of compliance, contact Greg Davison, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (g) German AD No. 2002-066, effective date: March 21, 2002; and 
German AD No. 2002-067, effective date: March 21, 2002, also address 
the subject of this AD.

May I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?

    (h) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact BURKHARDT GROB LUFT-UND RAUMFAHRT GmbH & CO KG, 
Letenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; 
telephone: 011 49 8268 998139; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998200. To 
view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. This is docket number FAA-2005-20803; Directorate ID 
2005-CE-19-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 28, 2005.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19942 Filed 10-4-05; 8:45 am]
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