Airworthiness Directives; BURKHART GROB LUFT-UND-RAUMFAHRT GmbH & Co. KG, Model G 103 C Twin III SL Sailplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17983-17985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3351]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20768; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-16-AD; 
Amendment 39-14554; AD 2006-08-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BURKHART GROB LUFT-UND-RAUMFAHRT GmbH & 
Co. KG, Model G 103 C Twin III SL Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
supersedes AD 97-24-09, which applies to certain BURKHART GROB LUFT-
UND-RAUMFAHRT GmbH & Co. KG (Grob) Model G 103 C Twin III SL 
sailplanes. AD 97-24-09 currently requires repetitively inspecting the 
propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel for increased play and, if 
increased play is found, modifying the propeller bearing and pulley 
wheel. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. 
Consequently, this AD requires you to modify the propeller bearing and 
upper pulley wheel by installing a new securing plate and tightening 
the grooved nut to the new torque values. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent loss of the sailplane propeller caused by increased play in the 
current design propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel. This could 
result in loss of control of the sailplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on May 9, 2006.
    On January 5, 1998 (62 FR 62945, November 26, 1997), the Director 
of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by 
reference of GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18, dated 
March 7, 1996, and GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18/
2, dated July 8, 1996.
    As of May 9, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service 
Bulletin MSB869-18/3, dated May 24, 2002, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, 
contact GROB Luft-und, Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874 
tussenhausen-Mattsies, Federal

[[Page 17984]]

Republic of Germany; telephone: +49 8268 998139; facsimile: +49 8268 
998200.
    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 20590-0001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2005-20768; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-CE-16-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory A. Davison, Aerospace 
Engineer, ACE-112, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 15, 2005, 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 Grob Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes. This proposal 
was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35568). The NPRM proposed to 
supersede AD 97-24-09 with a new AD that would require you to modify 
the propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel by installing a new 
securing plate and tightening the grooved nut to the new torque values.

Comments

    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

    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:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 8 sailplanes in the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                           Labor cost                               Parts cost       sailplane    U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 workhours x $65 per hour = $390...............................             N/A            $390          $3,120
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    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.
    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-2005-20768; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-16-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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-
24-09, Amendment 39-10216 (62 FR 62945, November 26, 1997), and by 
adding a new AD to read as follows:

2006-08-01 BURKHART GROB LUFT-UND RAUMFAHRT GMBH & CO. KG: Amendment 
39-14554; Docket No. FAA-2005-20768; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-
16-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on May 9, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 97-24-09, Amendment 39-10216.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects the Model G 103 C Twin III SL sailplanes, 
serial numbers 35002 through 35051, that are certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is the result of increased play of the propeller 
bearing. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent 
loss of the sailplane propeller caused by increased play in the 
current design propeller bearing and upper pulley wheel. This could 
result in loss of control of the sailplane.

Compliance

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

[[Page 17985]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify the propeller bearing  Within 25 engine      Follow GROB Luft-und
 and upper pulley wheel by     operating hours       Raumfahrt Service
 installing a new securing     after May 9, 2006     Bulletin No. 869-
 plate, part number (P/N)      (the effective date   18, dated March 7,
 103SL-6400.12, and            of this AD).          1996 (including the
 tightening the grooved nut,                         reissued page 6
 P/N 103SL-W-6400. Use the                           from GROB Luft-und
 new torque values as                                Raumfahrt Service
 specified in the GROB Luft-                         Bulletin No. 869-18/
 und Raumfahrt Service                               2, dated July 8,
 Bulletin MSB869-18/3, dated                         1996, issued as a
 May 24, 2002.                                       complement and a
                                                     correction to GROB
                                                     Luft-und Raumfahrt
                                                     Service Bulletin
                                                     No. 869-18, dated
                                                     March 7, 1996) and
                                                     GROB Luft-und
                                                     Raumfahrt Service
                                                     Bulletin MSB869-18/
                                                     3, dated May 24,
                                                     2002. Use the new
                                                     torque values as
                                                     specified in the
                                                     GROB Luft-und
                                                     Raumfahrt Service
                                                     Bulletin MSB869-18/
                                                     3, dated May 24,
                                                     2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Method of Compliance

    (f) The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, ATTN: Gregory A. 
Davison, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-112, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4130; facsimile: (816) 329-4149, has the authority to approve 
alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (g) LBA Airworthiness Directive 1996-206/3, dated August 22, 
2002; GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18, dated 
March 7, 1996; GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18/
2, dated July 8, 1996; and GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin 
MSB869-18/3, dated May 24, 2002, also address the subject of this 
AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference?

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18, 
dated March 7, 1996; GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 
869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996; and GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service 
Bulletin MSB869-18/3, dated May 24, 2002.
    (1) On January 5, 1998 (62 FR 62945, November 26, 1997), the 
Director of the Federal Register previously approved the 
incorporation by reference of GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt Service 
Bulletin No. 869-18, dated March 7, 1996, and GROB Luft-und 
Raumfahrt Service Bulletin No. 869-18/2, dated July 8, 1996.
    (2) As of May 9, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of GROB Luft-und Raumfahrt 
Service Bulletin MSB869-18/3, dated May 24, 2002, in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (3) To get a copy of this service information, contact GROB 
Luft-und, Raumfahrt, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D86874 tussenhausen 
Mattsies, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: +49 8268 998139; 
facsimile: +49 8268 998200. 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 20590-0001 or on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA200520768; 
Directorate Identifier 2005CE16AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 3, 2006.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3351 Filed 4-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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