Proposed Rule2022-05873
Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Gliders
Primary source
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Published
March 23, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15 gliders. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as wing root damage. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the wing root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16433-16435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05873]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2022 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 16433]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0288; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00913-G]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Segelflugzeugbau Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15
gliders. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an
aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as wing root
damage. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the wing
root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib
with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage. The FAA
is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 9,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Alexander
Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-Schleicher-Str. 1,
Poppenhausen, Germany D-36163; phone: +49 (0) 06658 89-0; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c4adaaa2ab84a5a8a1bca5aaa0a1b6e9b7a7aca8a1ada7aca1b6eaa0a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7ded9d1d8f7d6dbd2cfd6d9d3d2c59ac4d4dfdbd2ded4dfd2c599d3d2">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="https://www.alexander-schleicher.de">https://www.alexander-schleicher.de</a>. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0288; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International
Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106;
phone: (816) 329-4165; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0bab9bdfea2a5a4b8b5a2b6bfa2b490b6b1b1feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="69030004471b1c1d010c1b0f061b0d290f0808470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0288; Project Identifier
MCAI-2021-00913-G'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim
Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2021-0187, dated August 9, 2021 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on certain Alexander
Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW 15 gliders. The MCAI
states:
Occurrences were reported of finding wing root rib damage.
Investigation is ongoing to determine the root cause of the damage.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could reduce the
structural integrity of the wing assembly of the sailplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Schleicher issued
the TN [technical note] to provide inspection instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of each affected part and, depending on
findings, replacement. This [EASA] AD also introduces restrictions
for installation of an affected part.
[[Page 16434]]
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0288.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau
ASW 15 Technical Note No. 29, dated June 28, 2021. This service
information specifies inspecting the root ribs at the wings.
The FAA also reviewed Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Repair instruction exchange of wing root ribs
according to TN 29, dated June 28, 2021. This service information
specifies procedures for replacing the root ribs.
In addition, the FAA reviewed Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Maintenance Instruction G, Issue 1, dated June
28, 2021. This service information specifies procedures for inspecting
the root ribs at the wings for damage.
This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES.
FAA's Determination
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 20 gliders of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Inspect root ribs................. 1 work-hour x $85 per Not Applicable....... $85 $1,700
hour = $85.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of
gliders that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace all four root ribs.................... 8 work-hours x $85 per hour = $1,000 $1,680
$680.
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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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 airworthiness
directive:
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau: Docket No. FAA-
2022-0288; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00913-G.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 9, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
[[Page 16435]]
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15 gliders, all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5712, Wing, Rib/
Bulkhead.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as wing root rib
damage. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct damaged
root ribs. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
reduced structural integrity of the wing assembly, which could lead
to loss of control of the glider.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Action
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD and
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, inspect all wing
root ribs (4 places) for cracks, looseness, and damage in accordance
with the Action section in Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Maintenance Instruction G, Issue 1, dated
June 28, 2021. If there is a crack in any root rib, a loose rib or
lift pin bushing, or any damage, before further flight, replace the
root rib in accordance with Action paragraph (B) in Alexander
Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Technical Note No. 29,
dated June 28, 2021, and steps 1 through 7 in Alexander Schleicher
GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau ASW 15 Repair instruction exchange of
wing root ribs according to TN 29, dated June 28, 2021.
(2) Replacing all four wing root ribs is terminating action for
the repetitive inspections required by this AD.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD
and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b48d99f5e2e799f5fde69983878499f5f9fbf7f4d2d5d59ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e1d8cca0b7b2cca0a8b3ccd6d2d1cca0acaea2a1878080cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Jim Rutherford,
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section,
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4165; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#016b686c2f737475696473676e7365416760602f666e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8d2d1d596cacdccd0ddcaded7cadcf8ded9d996dfd7ce">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Refer to MCAI European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
AD 2021-0187, dated August 9, 2021, for related information. You may
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0288.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-
Schleicher-Str. 1, Poppenhausen, Germany D-36163 ; phone: +49 (0)
06658 89-0; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#731a1d151c33121f160b121d1716015e00101b1f161a101b16015d1716"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7aea9a1a887a6aba2bfa6a9a3a2b5eab4a4afaba2aea4afa2b5e9a3a2">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="https://www.alexander-schleicher.de">https://www.alexander-schleicher.de</a>. You may view this service information
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
Issued on March 15, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-05873 Filed 3-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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