AD 96-04-12

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6937-6938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3970]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-16-AD; Amendment 39-9524; AD 96-04-12]


Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH DG-500M 
Sailplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (Glaser-Dirks) DG-500M 
sailplanes. This action requires replacing the airbrake control hook-up 
shaft with a part of improved design. Reports of cracks in the welding 
of the lever to the torsion tube of the airbrake control prompted this 
action. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent an 
unintended extension of the airbrakes caused by failure of the lever to 
the torsion tube of the airbrake control, which could result in 
flutter, excessive rate of descent, and loss of control of the 
sailplane.

DATES: Effective March 29, 1996.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before April 19, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-16-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from 
Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH, Im Schollengarten 19-20, D-78646 
Buchsal-UnterGrombach 4, Germany. This information may also be examined 
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-16-AD, 
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Herman Belderok, Project Officer, 
Sailplanes, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 
426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Luftfarht-Bundesant (LBA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Glaser-Dirks DG-500M sailplanes. 
The LBA reports cracks in the welding of the lever to the torsion tube 
of the airbrake control. In one instance, the airbrake control failed, 
resulting in an unintended airbrake extension. If not detected and 
corrected, a cracked lever to the torsion tube of the airbrake control 
could result in an unintended extension of the airbrakes with 
subsequent possible flutter, excessive rate of descent, and loss of 
control of the sailplane.
    Glaser-Dirks Technical Note (TN) No. 843/3-2, dated October 28, 
1992, contains information about replacing the airbrake control hook-up 
shaft (part number 5 St 57) on DG-500M sailplanes with an airbrake 
control hook-up shaft of improved design (part number 5 St 57 change 
b). The LBA classified this technical note as mandatory and issued LBA 
AD 92-358, dated October 30, 1992, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these sailplanes in Germany.
    This sailplane model is manufactured in Germany and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described. The FAA has examined the findings of the LBA, 
reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other Glaser-Dirks DG-500M sailplanes of the same 
type design registered in the United States, this AD requires replacing 
the airbrake control hook-up shaft (part number 5 St 57) with an 
airbrake control hook-up shaft of improved design (part number 5 St 57 
change b). Accomplishment of the replacement is in accordance with the 
applicable maintenance or service manual. Improved design airbrake 
control hook-up shafts may be obtained from Glaser-Dirks on an exchange 
basis.
    None of the DG-500M sailplanes affected by this action are on the 
U.S. Register. All sailplanes included in the applicability of this 
rule currently are operated by non-U.S. operators under foreign 
registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by this AD action. 
However, the FAA considers this rule necessary to ensure that the 
unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any of these subject 
sailplanes are imported and placed on the U.S. Register.
    Should an affected sailplane be imported and placed on the U.S. 
Register, accomplishment of the required replacement and inspection 
would take approximately 8 workhours at an average labor charge of $60 
per workhour. Parts are provided by Glaser-Dirks at no cost on an 
exchange basis. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this 
AD would be $480 per sailplane that would become registered in the 
United States.
    Since this AD action does not affect any sailplane that is 
currently on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic impact and 
imposes no additional burden on any person. Therefore, notice and 
public procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made 
effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity for public comment, comments are 
invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to 

[[Page 6938]]
comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views, or 
arguments as they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules 
Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified 
under the caption ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before 
the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be 
amended in light of the comments received. Factual information that 
supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in 
evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether 
additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 95-CE-16-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

96-04-12  Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH: Amendment 39-9524; Docket 
95-CE-16-AD.

    Applicability: DG-500M sailplanes (serial numbers 5E30M14 
through 5E60M25), certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each sailplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For sailplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.
    Compliance: Required prior to further flight after the effective 
date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent an unintended extension of the airbrakes caused by 
failure of the lever to the torsion tube of the airbrake control, 
which could result in flutter, excessive rate of descent, and loss 
of control of the sailplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the airbrake control hook-up shaft (part number 5 St 
57) with an airbrake control hook-up shaft of improved design (part 
number 5 St 57 change b). Accomplishment of the replacement is in 
accordance with the applicable maintenance or service manual.

    Note 2: Glaser-Dirks Technical Note No. 843/3-2, dated October 
28, 1992, references an exchange program where improved design 
airbrake control hook-up shafts may be obtained at no cost.

    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the sailplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Glaser-Dirks 
Flugzeugbau GmbH, Im Schollengarten 19-20, D-78646 Buchsal-
UnterGrombach 4, Germany; or may examine this document at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (e) This amendment (39-9524) becomes effective on March 29, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-3970 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P