Document ID: FAA-2022-0293-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Alexander Schleicher GmbH and Co. Segelflugzeugbau Gliders
Posted Date: 2022-03-28T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17204-17206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06390]

[[Page 17204]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0293; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01125-G]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 
Segelflugzeugbau Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 75-
23-03, which applies to all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 
Segelflugzeugbau (Alexander Schleicher) Model Ka2B, Ka 6, Ka 6 B, Ka 6 
BR, Ka 6 C, Ka 6 CR, K 7, K 8, and AS-K 13 gliders. AD 75-23-03 
requires visually inspecting the glue joint between the elevator nose 
rib number 1 and the nose plywood skin and replacing the glue joint if 
insufficient glue adhesion is found. Since the FAA issued AD 75-23-03, 
the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded prior EASA 
ADs for the unsafe condition on these products. This proposed AD would 
add the Model K 8 B gliders to the applicability and would require 
repetitively inspecting the glue joint at elevator rib number 1 and 
repairing any damage found. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 12, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Alexander 
Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-Schleicher-Str. 1, 
Poppenhausen, Germany D-36163; phone: +49 (0) 06658 89-0; email: 
[email protected]; website: https://www.alexander-schleicher.de. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0293; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; 
phone: (816) 329-4165; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0293; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-01125-G'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim 
Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 75-23-03, Amendment 39-2414 (40 FR 50706, October 
31, 1975) (AD 75-23-03) for all Alexander Schleicher Model Ka2B, Ka 6, 
Ka 6 B, Ka 6 BR, Ka 6 C, Ka 6 CR, K 7, K 8, and AS-K 13 gliders. AD 75-
23-03 was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) originated by Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which, at the time, was 
the airworthiness authority for Germany. AD 75-23-03 requires a one-
time inspection of the glue joint at elevator rib number 1 for glue 
adhesion and repair if necessary.

Actions Since AD 75-23-03 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 75-23-03, EASA, which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, superseded LBA's 
prior AD on this unsafe condition and issued EASA AD 2021-0230, dated 
October 14, 2021, (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), for 
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model AS-K 13, ASK 16, 
ASK 16B, ASK 18, ASK 18 B, K 8, K 8 B, K 8 C, K 7, Ka 6, Ka 6 B, Ka 6 
BR, Ka 6 C, Ka 6 CR, and Ka \6/0\ sailplanes (gliders). The MCAI 
states:

    An occurrence was reported of structural failure of an elevator 
during winch launching of a K 7 sailplane. Subsequent investigation 
results determined that the occurrence was due to damaged glue of 
the elevator's rib No. 1.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could affect the 
structural integrity of an elevator, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Schleicher issued 
the glued joint inspection TN [Technical Note], as defined in this 
[EASA] AD, to provide inspection instructions and LBA Germany issued 
AD 72-7 (later revised) to require those actions.
    Since that [LBA Germany] AD was issued, additional similar 
occurrences were reported of structural elevator failure, also on

[[Page 17205]]

(powered) sailplanes originally not affected by LBA 72-7/3. Prompted 
by this development, Schleicher issued the applicable TN, providing 
inspections instructions for all (powered) sailplanes having an 
elevator of a similar design and making the inspections dependent 
also on the number of take-offs.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD supersedes LBA 
Germany AD 72-7/3 [dated December 13, 1989] and requires repetitive 
inspections of the elevator and, depending on findings, 
accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0293.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau 
Appendix 01-2021, Flight and Operating Manual, dated March 1, 2021. 
This service information specifies procedures for protecting the glider 
from moisture and repetitively inspecting the glue joint between 
elevator rib number 1 and the plywood skin.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, 
it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would supersede AD 75-23-03 without retaining any 
of its actions. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting 
the glue joint between elevator rib number 1 and the plywood skin and 
repairing if necessary. This proposed AD would also add Model K 8 B 
gliders to the applicability.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI applies to Model ASK 16, ASK 16B, ASK 18, ASK 18 B, K 8 C, 
and Ka \6/0\ gliders and this proposed AD would not because they do not 
have an FAA type certificate.
    This proposed AD would include the Model Ka2B glider whereas the 
MCAI does not.
    Although the technical notes required by the MCAI specify to report 
findings of damage to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not 
require that action.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 83 gliders of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it 
would take 4 work-hours per glider to inspect the glue joint at 
elevator rib number 1 and would require parts costing $50. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost on U.S. 
operators to be $32,370 or $390 per glider, per inspection cycle.
    The FAA estimates that replacing the glue joint, if necessary, 
would take 8 work-hours and would require parts costing $250 for an 
estimated cost of $930 per glider. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of gliders that may need this action.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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.
    The FAA is 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 rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 75-23-03, Amendment 39-2414 (40 FR 
50706, October 31, 1975), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau: Docket No. FAA-
2022-0293; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01125-G.

 (a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 12, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 75-23-03, Amendment 39-2414 (40 FR 50706, 
October 31, 1975).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 
Segelflugzeugbau Model Ka2B, Ka 6, Ka 6 B, Ka 6 BR, Ka 6 C, Ka 6 CR, 
K 7, K 8, K 8 B, and AS-K 13 gliders, all serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5521, Elevator, 
Spar/Rib Structure.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as structural 
failure of an elevator during winch launching. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to

[[Page 17206]]

prevent structural failure of an elevator, which could lead to loss 
of glider control.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Actions

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months or 500 flight 
cycles, whichever occurs first, inspect the glue joint between 
elevator rib number 1 and the plywood skin for damage by following 
section 3 of Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau 
Appendix 01-2021, Flight and Operating Manual, dated March 1, 2021. 
For purposes of this AD, a flight cycle would be counted anytime the 
glider launches and then lands. If there is any damage on the glue 
joint, repair before further flight.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of 
this AD and email to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jim Rutherford, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4165; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2021-0230, dated October 14, 2021, for related information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0293.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-
Schleicher-Str. 1, Poppenhausen, Germany D-36163; phone: +49 (0) 
06658 89-0; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.alexander-schleicher.de. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

    Issued on March 22, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-06390 Filed 3-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P