Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH & Co. Models S10, S10-V, and S10-VT Sailplanes

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41923-41925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15667]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-58-AD; Amendment 39-13730; AD 2004-14-21]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Stemme GmbH & Co. Models S10, S10-V, 
and S10-VT Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Stemme GmbH & Co. Models S10, S10-V, and S10-VT sailplanes. This AD 
requires you to remove the drive shaft assembly and ship it to the 
service department of Stemme GmbH & Co. The engine is mounted behind 
the two side-by-side seats. The engine combined with the carbon fiber 
drive shaft turn the centrifugally extended propeller. After an initial 
visual inspection, the service department will perform an operational 
check to determine whether the drive shaft can be further used or must 
be replaced. Once corrective action is identified, a drive shaft will 
be shipped to you for installation. This AD is the result of mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for Germany. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct 
incorrectly glued drive shafts, which could result in drive shaft 
failure. During self-takeoff or critical periods of landing, failure of 
the drive shaft could lead to loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on August 21, 2004.
    As of August 21, 2004, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD 
from Stemme GmbH & Co. AG, Flugplatzstra[eszett]e F 2, Nr. 7, D-15344 
Strausberg, Germany.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-58-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Office hours are 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Davison, Aerospace Engineer, 
Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4130; facsimile: 816-329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), 
which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently notified FAA 
that an unsafe condition may exist on all Stemme GmbH & Co. Models S10, 
S10-V, and S10-VT sailplanes. The LBA reports that two drive shafts 
have failed during normal operation of the sailplane. The flanges of 
the drive shafts started to rotate within the carbon fiber reinforced 
plastics-tube (CFRP-tube), while the drive shafts still appeared to be 
intact when looking at them from the outside. The metal flanges on both 
ends of the drive shafts might not have been properly glued to the 
CFRP-tube.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Incorrectly 
glued drive shafts could result in drive shaft failure. This failure 
could lead to loss of control of the sailplane.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to 
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 
include an AD that would apply to all Stemme GmbH & Co. Models S10, 
S10-V, and S10-VT sailplanes. This proposal was published in the 
Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 16, 
2004 (69 FR 74). The NPRM proposed to require you to remove the drive 
shaft assembly and ship it to the service department of Stemme GmbH & 
Co. After an initial visual inspection, the service department will 
perform an operational check to determine whether the drive shaft can 
be further used or must be replaced. Once corrective action is taken, 
the NPRM also proposed to require you to install the returned drive 
shaft.

Comments

    Was the public invited to comment? We provided the public the 
opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no 
comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the 
public.

Conclusion

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? We have carefully 
reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor 
editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:

--Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for 
correcting the unsafe condition; and

[[Page 41924]]

--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 
2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, 
July 22, 2002), which governs the 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 does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 57 sailplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected sailplanes? We estimate the following costs to remove the 
drive shaft, ship it to and from manufacturer's service department, and 
install the drive shaft after manufacturer's inspection is complete:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Shipping cost to
               Labor cost                    Parts cost         and from       Total cost per     Total cost on
                                                              manufacturer        sailplane      U.S operations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 workhours x $65 per hour = $390.......              N/A            $1,080            $1,470           $83,790
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs for the manufacturer to do the 
inspection and any necessary repairs that will be required based on the 
results of this inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
sailplanes that may need this repair:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Total cost per
             Labor cost                  Parts cost         sailplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and testing by                         N/A              $210
 manufacturer--$210.................
Replacement of drive shaft--labor is           $5,780              5780
 included in the parts cost.........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    Will this AD impact various entities? We have 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.
    Will this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? For 
the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); 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 AD 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 No. 2003-CE-58-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2004-14-21 Stemme GmbH & Co.: Amendment 39-13730; Docket No. 2003-
CE-58-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on August 21, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Sailplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following sailplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Models                            Serial nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) S10-VT...........................  11-001 through 11-055, 11-057, 11-
                                        058, and 11-060 through 11-066;
(2) S10-V............................  14-003, 14-004, 14-007, 14-014,
                                        14-015, and 14-018 through 14-
                                        030, as well as conversion
                                        serial numbers 14-028M, 14-036M,
                                        and 14-038M; and 10-08 and 10-
                                        13.
(3) S10..............................  10-08 and 10-13.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) The actions specified in this AD are intended to identify 
incorrectly glued drive shafts, which could result in drive shaft 
failure. This failure could lead to loss of control of the 
sailplane.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

[[Page 41925]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Remove the drive shaft    Do within 50 hours    Follow the
 and ship it to the service    time-in-service       procedures in the
 department of Stemme GmbH &   after August 21,      Stemme GmbH & Co.
 Co. for inspection at the     2004 (the effective   Service Bulletin
 following address: Stemme     date of this AD).     A31-10-058, dated
 GmbH & Co. AG,                                      November 8, 2001.
 Flugplatzstra[eszett]e F 2,
 Nr. 7, D-15344 Strausberg,
 Germany. The sailplane's
 Component History Card and
 information about the
 current operating times
 (time since new, time since
 overhaul) must be included.
(2) Install the drive shaft   Before further        Follow the
 after Stemme GmbH & Co. has   flight after          procedures in the
 performed the inspections,    receiving the         Stemme GmbH & Co.
 determined corrective         returned drive        Service Bulletin
 action, and returned the      shaft.                A31-10-058, dated
 drive shaft.                                        November 8, 2001.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Gregory M. Davison, 
Aerospace Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4130; 
facsimile: 816-329-4090.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

    (g) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Stemme GmbH & Co. Service Bulletin A31-10-058, dated 
November 8, 2001. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get a copy from 
Stemme GmbH & Co., Flugplatzstra[eszett]e F 2, Nr. 7, D-15344 
Strausberg, Germany. You may review copies at FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; or 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/ code -- of-- federal-- 
regulations/ ibr -- locations. html.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (h) LBA Airworthiness Directive No. 2002-113, dated May 2, 2002, 
and Stemme GmbH & Co. Service Bulletin A31-10-058, dated November 8, 
2001, also address the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 30, 2004.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15667 Filed 7-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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