Document ID: FAA-2018-0014-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders
Posted Date: 2018-01-16T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2088-2090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00476]

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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2088]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0014; Product Identifier 2017-CE-044-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-08-
09 for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500MB gliders that are equipped 
with a Solo 2625 02 engine modified with a fuel injection system 
following the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische 
Mitteilung (TM)/Service Bulletin (SB) 4600-3 ``Fuel Injection System'' 
and identified as Solo 2625 02i. This proposed AD results from 
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 the potential of an in-flight shut-down and engine fire 
due to failure of the connecting stud for the two fuel injector mounts 
of the engine redundancy system on gliders equipped with a Solo 2625 
02i engine. This proposed AD adds the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
1000M glider equipped with Solo 2625 02i engines to the applicability. 
We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; 
telephone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: germany.com">[email protected]germany.com; internet: http://aircraft.solo-online.com. You may review 
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and 
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 
329-4148.

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-2018-
0014; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations (telephone 
(800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0014; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-044-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed 
AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We issued AD 2017-08-09, Amendment 39-18858 (82 FR 18694; April 21, 
2017) (``AD 2017-08-09''). That AD required actions intended to address 
an unsafe condition on DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders and 
was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. That 
MCAI is EASA AD No.: 2014-0269, dated December 11, 2014 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI'').
    Since we issued AD 2017-08-09, the FAA has now type certificated 
the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M glider and that glider model is 
equipped with a Solo 2625 02i engine.
    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0014.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH issued Technische Mitteilung Nr. (English 
translation: Service Bulletin No.) 4600-5, Ausgabe 2 (English 
translation: issue 2), dated December 12, 2014, approved for 
incorporation by reference on May 26, 2017 (82 FR 18694; April 21, 
2017). The service information describes procedures for changing the 
fuel injector mounts for the engine redundancy system and securing of 
the connection of the lower to the upper engine mount. 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 of this NPRM.

[[Page 2089]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 6 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $67 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $912, or $152 per product.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, 
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and 
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation 
Division.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (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.

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 removing Amendment 39-18858 (82 FR 
18694; April 21, 2017), and adding the following new AD:

DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2018-0014; Product Identifier 
2017-CE-044-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 2, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2017-08-09, Amendment 39-18858 (82 FR 18694; 
April 21, 2017) (``AD 2017-08-09'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH DG-500MB and DG-1000M 
gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are:
    (1) Equipped with a Solo 2625 02 engine modified with a fuel 
injection system following the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren 
GmbH Service Bulletin (SB)/Technische Mitteilung (TM) 4600-3 ``Fuel 
Injection System'' and identified as Solo 2625 02i; or
    (2) equipped with a Solo 2625 02i engine at manufacture.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 72: Engine.

(e) Reason

    This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as the potential of 
an in-flight shut-down and engine fire resulting in loss of control 
due to failure of the connecting stud for the two fuel injector 
mounts of the engine redundancy system on gliders equipped with a 
Solo 2625 02i engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent such failure 
that could lead to the potential of an in-flight shut-down and 
engine fire and result in loss of control and to include recently 
FAA type-certificated DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders 
equipped with Solo 2625 02i engines.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    (1) For DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders: Unless 
already done, within the next 60 days after May 26, 2017 (the 
effective date of AD 2017-08-09), modify the engine redundancy 
system following the actions in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische 
Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-5, 
Ausgabe 2 (English translation: Issue 2), dated December 12, 2014.
    (2) For DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M gliders: Unless 
already done, within the next 60 days after the effective date of 
this AD, modify the engine redundancy system following the actions 
in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English 
translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-5, Ausgabe 2 (English 
translation: Issue 2), dated December 12, 2014.
    (3) For all gliders: The Note in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH 
Technische Mitteilung (English translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 
4600-5, Ausgabe 2 (English translation: Issue 2), dated December 12, 
2014, stating ``the actions have to be accomplished by a certified 
maintenance organization and must be released by certifying staff,'' 
is not applicable to this AD.
    Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD: This service information 
contains German to English translation. The EASA used the English 
translation in referencing the document. For enforceability 
purposes, we will refer to the Solo Kleinmotoren service information 
as it appears on the document.

(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD allows credit for modification of the engine redundancy 
system as required in paragraph (f) of this AD if done before May

[[Page 2090]]

26, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-08-09) following Solo 
Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English translation: 
Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-5, Ausgabe 1 (English translation: Issue 
1), dated November 24, 2014.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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 Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC 
on any glider 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA).

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2014-0269, dated December 11, 2014, for related information. You may 
examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0014. For service 
information related to this AD, contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, 
Postfach 600152, 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; telephone: +49 703 
1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: germany.com">[email protected]germany.com; 
internet: http://aircraft.solo-online.com. You may review this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Standards 
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 8, 2018.
Melvin Johnson,
Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00476 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
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