Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG Gliders

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24239-24241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10402]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0451; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-015-AD; 
Amendment 39-18885; AD 2017-10-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Stemme 
AG Model S10-VT gliders (type certificate previously held by Stemme 
GmbH & Co. KG). This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country 
to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The 
MCAI describes the unsafe condition as certain propeller front 
transmission gear wheels having insufficient material strength because 
of improper heat treatment

[[Page 24240]]

during manufacturing. We are issuing this AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 15, 2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by July 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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.

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-2017-
0451; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for the Docket Office (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 Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No. 2017-0072-E, dated April 26, 2017 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    It has been determined that, following improper heat treatment 
during manufacture, the material strength of an identified batch of 
propeller front transmission gear wheels is insufficient.
    This condition, if not corrected, can lead to failure of a gear 
wheel, with possible loss of the power transmission between the 
engine and the propeller and, eventually, reduced control of the 
sailplane.
    Prompted by these determinations, Stemme issued Service Bulletin 
(SB) P062-980010, providing instructions not to operate sailplanes 
equipped with affected parts.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of affected gearboxes.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0451.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the 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 issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and 
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
improper heat treatment of the propeller front transmission gear wheels 
could cause the gear wheel to fail. This failure could cause loss of 
power between the engine and the propeller, which could result in 
reduced control. Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity 
for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that 
good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 
days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0451; Directorate 
Identifier 2017-CE-015-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are approximately 50 Stemme AG Model S10-VT gliders of U.S. 
registry but only 14 serial numbers of the part number (P/N) 11AG front 
gearbox. Therefore, the most gliders of U.S. registry affected would be 
14. According to Stemme AG, there are only 2 of the affected gearboxes 
installed on gliders of U.S. registery.
    At the issue date of this AD, no design solution is available to 
restore the airworthiness of the respective type design to a level 
corresponding to its approved type design specifications. Therefore, 
the FAA cannot determine the cost of returning the affected gliders to 
service.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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,

[[Page 24241]]

    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 adding the following new AD:

2017-10-11 Stemme AG: Amendment 39-18885; Docket No. FAA-2017-0451; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-015-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 15, 
2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Stemme AG Model S10-VT gliders (type 
certificate previously held by Stemme GmbH & Co. KG), all serial 
numbers, that are:
    (1) Equipped with a front gearbox, part number (P/N) 11AG, with 
a serial number listed in table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD; and
    (2) are certificated in any category.

Table 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD--Affected P/N 11AG (Front Gearbox) S/
                                   Ns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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              80058/0814                           80065/0616
              80059/0915                           80066/0716
              80060/0915                           80067/0916
              80061/1115                           80068/1016
              80062/1215                           80069/0117
              80063/0116                           80070/0217
              80064/0416                           80071/0217
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: Page 2 of Stemme AG Service 
Bulletin No. P062-980010, dated April 21, 2017, provides a pictorial 
of where the serial number of the affected gearboxes are located.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 61: Propellers/
Propulsors.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as certain 
propeller front transmission gear wheels having insufficient 
material strength because of improper heat treatment during 
manufacturing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
propeller front transmission gear wheels. This failure could cause 
loss of power between the engine and the propeller, which could 
result in reduced control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Before further flight after June 15, 2017 (the effective 
date of this AD), replace the front gearbox following a method 
approved specifically for this AD by the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate. Contact the FAA using the information in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD to obtain FAA-approved repair instructions 
approved specifically for compliance with this AD and incorporate 
those instructions.

    Note 2 to paragraph (f)(1) of this AD: At the issue date of this 
AD, no design solution is available to restore the airworthiness of 
the respective type design to a level corresponding to its approved 
type design specifications.

    (2) As of June 15, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), do not 
install a front gear box listed in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, 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 Directorate, 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) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(h) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2017-0072-E, dated April 26, 2017, and Stemme AG Service Bulletin 
No. P062-980010, dated April 21, 2017, for related information. You 
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0451.
    (2) For information concerning this action, contact STEMME AG 
service information identified in this AD, contact STEMME AG, 
Flugplatzstrasse F2, Nr. 6-7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; 
telephone: +49 (0) 3341-3612-0, fax: +49 (0) 3341-3612-30; Internet: 
www.stemme.com.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 9, 2017.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10402 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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