[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16398-16399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7799]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-35-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH SF34 and SF34B 
Gliders

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 certain Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH (Scheibe) 
SF34 and SF34B gliders. The proposed action would require adding 
armature (supportive covering) to both wings, modifying the root rib of 
the left wing, and incorporating changes and operating limitations to 
the flight manual. Failure of the left wing root rib on one of the 
affected gliders while in flight prompted the proposed action. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue 
failure of the wing, which could result in loss of control of the 
glider.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 16, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-35-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 Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH, August Pfaltz--Strasse 23, Dachau, 
Germany. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at 
the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman C. Belderok, Project 
Officer, Gliders, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
telephone (816) 426-6932; 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. 94-CE-35-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 Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-35-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Luftfarht-Bundesant (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may 
exist on certain Scheibe SF34 and SF34B gliders. The LBA reports that 
fatigue failure of the root rib occurred on one of these gliders while 
in flight, which resulted in an accident. The glider in the referenced 
accident was within 3,000 to 6,000 hours time-in-service (TIS). The 
life limit of the wing structure was recently extended from 3,000 hours 
TIS to 6,000 hours TIS.
    Scheibe has issued Technical Note (TN) Number 336-2, dated March 
10, 1995, which specifies procedures for adding armature (supportive 
covering) to both wings and modifying the root rib of the left wing. 
This TN also specifies changes and operating limitations to be 
incorporated into the flight manual. The LBA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued LBA AD 89-73, dated May 10, 1989, in 
order 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 Scheibe SF34 and SF34B gliders of the same 
type design, the proposed AD would require adding armature (supportive 
covering) to both wings, modifying the root rib of the left wing, and 
incorporating changes and operating limitations to the flight manual. 
The proposed addition and modification would be accomplished in 
accordance with Scheibe TN Number 336-2, dated March 10, 1989. The 
operating limitations and flight manual changes are included in the TN.
    The FAA estimates that 2 gliders in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 20 
workhours per glider to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $50 per glider. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,500 
($1,250 per glider). This figure is based on the assumption that no 
affected owner/operator of the affected gliders has incorporated the 
proposed addition, modification, or operating changes and limitations.
    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 [[Page 16399]] 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.


Sec. 39.13  [AMENDED]

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

Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. 94-CE-35-AD.
    Applicability: SF34 and SF34B gliders (serial number 5102 
through 5131), certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each glider 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 gliders that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (e) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any glider from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours TIS after the 
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent fatigue failure of the wing, which could result in 
loss of control of the glider, accomplish the following:
    (a) Add armature (supportive covering) to both wings in 
accordance with the job instructions section of Scheibe Technical 
Note (TN) No. 336-2, dated March 10, 1989.
    (b) Modify the root rib of the left wing in accordance with the 
job instructions section of Scheibe TN No. 336-2, dated March 10, 
1989.
    (c) Accomplish the following flight manual changes:
    (1) Replace pages 1 and 13 of the flight manual with the revised 
pages 1 and 13 included with Scheibe TN Number 336-1, dated March 
10, 1989.
    (2) Replace pages 1 and 11 in the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness with the revised pages 1 and 11 included with Scheibe 
TN Number 336-1, dated March 10, 1989.
    (3) In page 8 of the flight manual, add 1 kg to the current 
empty weight of the glider and deduct 1kg from the current maximum 
load as specified in paragraph 3 of the Instructions section of 
Scheibe TN Number 336-1, dated March 10, 1989.
    (4) Remove existing operating limitations and incorporate new 
operating limitations into the Limitations section of the flight 
manual as specified in paragraph 4 of the Instructions section of 
Scheibe TN Number 336-1, dated March 10, 1989.
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (f) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Scheibe Flugzeugbau 
GmbH, Dachau, Aug. Pfaltz - Str. 23, Dachau, Germany; 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 March 24, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-7799 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U