Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Model G120A Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32988-32990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11042]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD; 
Amendment 39-14110; AD 2005-11-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE Model G120A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A airplanes. This AD requires you to 
replace the main landing gear front and rear spherical bearings with 
improved spherical bearings. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Germany. We are issuing this AD to replace front and rear main 
landing gear bearings that are susceptible to damage when exposed to 
high axial loads, which could result in failure of the landing gear 
bearing. This failure could lead to loss of control on landing.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on July 18, 2005.
    As of July 18, 2005, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the 
regulation.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, 
contact GROB-WERKE, Burkart Grob e.K., Unternehmenbereich Luft-und 
Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 86874 Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; 
telephone: 011 49 8268 998 105; facsimile: 011 49 8268 998 200.
    To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2005-20590; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
ACE-112, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4146; 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 GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A 
airplanes. The LBA reports an incident of a damaged spherical bearing 
(part number (P/N) S20) installed in the main landing gear on one of 
the affected airplanes. Evidence showed that the bearing inner ring was 
shifted against the outer ring. This indicated that the bearing was 
exposed to high axial loads. Grob has an improved spherical bearing (P/
N SSRC 20 C2) that can tolerate higher axial loads.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Main landing 
gear front and rear bearings that are susceptible to damage when 
exposed to high axial loads could result in failure of the landing gear 
bearing. This failure could lead to loss of control on landing.
    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 GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A 
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 1, 2005 (70 FR 16769). 
The NPRM proposed to require you to replace the main landing gear front 
and rear spherical bearings with improved spherical bearings.

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

[[Page 32989]]

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 airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 6 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to do the 
replacement of the main landing gear front and rear spherical bearings 
with improved spherical bearings. We have no way of determining the 
number of airplanes that may need this replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Total cost
             Labor cost                      Parts cost            per          Total cost on U.S. operators
                                                                 airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 work hours x $65 per hour = $65...  None. GROB will supply          $520  6 x $520 = $3,120
                                       parts free of charge.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
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 AD.

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 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) 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 ``Docket 
No. FAA-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-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:

2005-11-08 GROB-WERKE: Amendment 39-14110; Docket No. FAA-2005-
20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on July 18, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Model G120A airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Germany. The actions specified in this AD are intended to replace 
front and rear main landing gear bearings that are susceptible to 
damage when exposed to high axial loads, which could result in 
failure of the landing gear bearing. This failure could lead to loss 
of control on landing.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Replace any part number   Within the next 100   Follow GROB Service
 (P/N) S20 main landing gear   hours time-in-        Bulletin No.
 front and rear spherical      service (TIS) after   MSB1121-054, dated
 bearings with improved        July 18, 2005 (the    November 22, 2004.
 spherical bearings (P/N       effective date of
 SSRC 20 C2).                  this AD), unless
                               already done.
(2) Do not install any P/N    As of July 18, 2005   Not Applicable.
 S20 main landing gear front   (the effective date
 and rear spherical bearings.  of this AD).
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[[Page 32990]]

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, FAA. 
For information on any already approved alternative methods of 
compliance, contact Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-112, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: 816-329-4146; facsimile: 816-329-4090.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (g) German AD Number D-2005-075, dated February 9, 2005, also 
addresses the subject of this AD.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in GROB Service Bulletin No. MSB1121-054, dated 
November 22, 2004. 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. To get a copy of this 
service information, contact GROB-WERKE, Burkart Grob e.K., 
Unternehmenbereich Luft-und Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, 86874 
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany; telephone: 011 49 8268 998 105; 
facsimile: 011 49 8268 998 200. To review copies of this service 
information, go to the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. To 
view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2005-20590; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 26, 2005.
Kim Smith,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11042 Filed 6-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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