Document ID: FAA-2014-0018-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Centrair Gliders
Posted Date: 2014-04-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22369-22371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08074]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0018; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-049-AD; 
Amendment 39-17822; AD 2014-07-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Centrair Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Centrair Model 101, 101A, 101AP, and 101P gliders. This AD results from 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 damage to the fuselage. We are issuing this AD 
to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 27, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 27, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0018; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR, Aerodrome B.P. 44, F- 36300 
LeBlanc, France; telephone: +33(0)254370796, fax: +33(0)254374864, 
email: contact@sncentrair.com; Internet: none. You may view this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
jim.rutherford@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 22370]]

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Centrair Model 101, 101A, 
101AP, and 101P airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on January 15, 2014 (79 FR 2593). The NPRM proposed to correct 
an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an 
aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences of structural damage were reported on several 
Centrair 101 sailplane fuselage. The results of the subsequent 
investigations identified that these findings were accidental damage 
related and not identified in time during routine maintenance, due 
to inadequate maintenance instructions.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could reduce the 
structural integrity of the sailplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, 
Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle (SN) Centrair issued Service Bulletin 
(SB) 101-06 to provide instructions for structural inspections and 
Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) of 
France issued AD 85-21-(A) to mandate the fuselage inspections 
described in that SB.
    Since that AD was issued, SN Centrair issued SB 101-06 at 
revision (rev.) 1 to provide improved instructions to identify 
accidental structural damages.
    For the reasons described above, this AD retains the 
requirements of DGAC France AD 85-21-(A), which is superseded, but 
requires accomplishment of those fuselage structural inspections in 
accordance with improved instructions.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0018-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 2593, January 15, 
2014) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (79 FR 2593, January 15, 2014) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 43 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $10,965, or $255 per product.
    Since there are currently no repair instructions available if 
discrepancies are found during the required inspections, we have no way 
of determining the number of products that may need follow-on actions 
or what the cost per product would be.

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.
    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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0018; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office 
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 adding the following new AD:

2014-07-08 Centrair: Amendment 39-17822; Docket No. FAA-2014-0018; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-049-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 27, 
2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CENTRAIR Models 101, 101A, 101P, and 101AP 
gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 53: Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    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 
damage to the fuselage. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
structural damage not identified during routine maintenance 
inspections, which could lead to reduced structural integrity of the 
glider.

[[Page 22371]]

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD:
    (1) Within 25 days after May 27, 2014 (the effective date of 
this AD) and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
every 12 months, inspect all fuselage frames and ribs following the 
instructions in Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR Mandatory 
Service Bulletin 101-06, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2013.
    (2) If structural damage is detected during any inspection 
required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, 
contact Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR at the address 
specified in paragraph (i) of this AD to obtain FAA-approved repair 
instructions approved specifically for this AD, and before further 
flight, repair the glider using these repair instructions.
    (3) Accomplishment of a repair, as required by paragraph (f)(2) 
of this AD, does not constitute terminating action for the 
inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

    Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD:  We recommend that you also 
inspect the fuselage frames and ribs after the occurrence of any of 
the following events following the instructions in 
Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR Mandatory Service Bulletin 
101-06, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2013: Landing with retracted 
gear, landing gear retraction during landing run, ground looping 
during take-off or landing, hard landing, or damage of internal 
structure of the fuselage. If structural damage is detected during 
any of these inspections, we recommend you contact 
Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR at the address specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD for FAA-approved repair instructions.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
jim.rutherford@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC on any 
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office 
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2013-0258, dated October 25, 2013, for related information. The MCAI 
can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0018-0002.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR Mandatory Service 
Bulletin 101-06, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2013.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Centrair Gliders service information identified in this 
AD, contact Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle CENTRAIR, Aerodrome B.P. 
44, F- 36300 LeBlanc, France; telephone: +33(0)254370796, fax: 
+33(0)254374864, email: contact@sncentrair.com; Internet: none.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 4, 2014.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08074 Filed 4-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P