Airworthiness Directives; CENTRAIR 101 Series Gliders

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69895-69896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22872]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD; 
Amendment 39-14381; AD 2005-24-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CENTRAIR 101 Series Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
CENTRAIR 101 series gliders. This AD requires you to make pen and ink 
changes to the Limitations Section of the glider maintenance manual to 
eliminate contradictory information concerning the structural life 
limit. This AD results from a review by FAA of the Limitations Section 
of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance manual that revealed 
conflicting information concerning the structural life limit. We are 
issuing this AD to assure that the published life limit is adhered to 
and to prevent structural failure of the glider once this life limit is 
reached.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on January 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, 
contact CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 Le Blanc, France; 
telephone: 02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 02.54.37.48.64.
    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-2005-21951; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Directorate, 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? A review by FAA of the Limitations 
Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance manual revealed 
conflicting information concerning the structural life limit. Page 5.1 
of this manual specifies inspection criteria upon accumulating 3,000 
hour time-in-service (TIS). However, page 5.01 of the manual identifies 
a structural life limit of 3,000-hour TIS. CENTRAIR has verified that 
all the 101 series gliders delivered to the United States have a 3,000-
hour life limit with no current extension.
    Cumulative fatigue damage and fatigue cracking damage would 
sufficiently reduce residual strength of the airframe and result in 
failure of the airframe.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If this 
situation is not corrected, the published life limit may not be adhered 
to and the structural integrity of the glider could be compromised.
    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 CENTRAIR 101 series gliders. This 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on August 22, 2005 (70 FR 48918). The NPRM proposed 
to require you to make pen and ink changes to the Limitations Section 
of the glider maintenance manual to eliminate contradictory information 
concerning the structural life limit.

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.

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 gliders does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 51 gliders in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected gliders? We estimate the following costs to do this change of 
the maintenance manual:

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                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                 Labor cost                               Parts cost                  glider      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work hour x $65 = $65....................  Not Applicable.....................             $65          $3,315
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[[Page 69896]]

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-2005-21951; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD'' in your 
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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:

2005-24-01 CENTRAIR: Amendment 39-14381; Docket No. FAA-2005-21951; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on January 3, 2006.

What Other ADs Are Affected By This Action?

    (b) None.

What Gliders Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Models 101, 101A, 101AP, and 101P gliders, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of a review by FAA of the Limitations 
Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance manual that 
revealed conflicting information concerning the structural life 
limit. The actions specified in this AD are intended to assure that 
the published life limit is adhered to and to prevent structural 
failure of the glider once this life limit is reached.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using pen and ink, change     Within the next 30    The owner/operator
 Section 5.1 of the            days after January    holding at least a
 Limitations Section of the    3, 2006 (the          private pilot
 CENTRAIR Gliders CENTRAIR     effective date of     certificate as
 101--101 P-101 A-101 AP       this AD).             authorized by
 Maintenance Manual under                            section 43.7 of the
 ``General Inspection,'' to                          Federal Aviation
 read, ``The general                                 Regulations (14 CFR
 inspection should be                                43.7) may modify
 executed every 5 years                              the maintenance
 until the 3,000-hour time-                          manual as specified
 in-service structural life                          in paragraph (e) of
 limit is met.'' The above                           this AD. Make an
 change enforces the 3,000-                          entry into the
 hour structural life limit                          aircraft records
 set out in page 5.01--Life                          showing compliance
 Limits of the maintenance                           with this portion
 manual.                                             of the AD following
                                                     section 43.9 of the
                                                     Federal Aviation
                                                     Regulations (14 CFR
                                                     43.9).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: Section 5.0 of the Limitations Section of the CENTRAIR 
Gliders CENTRAIR 101--101 P-101 A-101 AP Maintenance Manual, date of 
approval, December 16, 1983, references 14 CFR 91.163. The Code of 
Federal Regulations has changed. The correct reference is Sec.  
91.403.

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 Greg Davison, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.

May I Get Copies of the Document Referenced in This AD?

    (g) You may obtain the service information referenced in this AD 
from CENTRAIR, Aerodome B.P.N. 44, 36300 Le Blanc, France; 
telephone: 02.54.37.07.96; facsimile: 02.54.37.48.64. 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-2005-21951; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-CE-39-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 10, 2005.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22872 Filed 11-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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