86 FR 193 pgs. 56225-56227 - Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG Gliders
Type: PRORULEVolume: 86Number: 193Pages: 56225 - 56227
Pages: 56225, 56226, 56227Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-AD]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2021-21934 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Stemme AG 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 certain Stemme AG Model Stemme S 12 gliders. This proposed 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 the incorrect installation of an axle connecting the main landing gear (MLG) to the center steel frame. This proposed AD would require inspecting the MLG installation. 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 November 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• 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.
• 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 STEMME AG, Flugplatzstrasse F2, Nr. 6-7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; phone: + 49 (0) 3341 3612-0, fax: + 49 (0) 3341 3612-30; email: airworthiness@stemme.de; website: https://www.stemme.com. 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 (816) 329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; 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; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.
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-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-AD" 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 https://www.regulations.gov, 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 2019-0130-E, dated June 7, 2019 (referred to after this as "the MCAI"), to address an unsafe condition on Stemme AG Model Stemme S 12 gliders. The MCAI states:
[top] Following a production acceptance flight, the pilot noticed that the aeroplane was in a banked position on the ground. Further examination determined that an axle, connecting the main landing gear (MLG) leg to the centre steel frame of the aeroplane, had
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to damage to the aeroplane, possibly resulting in injury to occupants.
To address this unsafe condition, Stemme issued the SB [service bulletin] to provide inspection instructions.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-time inspection of the MLG installation and, depending on findings, the accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0842.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Stemme Service Bulletin No. P062-980037, Revision 00, dated June 5, 2019 (SB P062-980037). The service information specifies inspecting and repairing, if necessary, the MLG leg connection to the center steel frame. 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 inspecting the MLG installation and, depending on the findings, further inspection of the components, surrounding structure, and systems for damage and repair.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
SB P062-980037 allows the pilot/owner to perform the initial inspection for correct installation, and this proposed AD would not. SB P062-980037 specifies contacting Stemme AG for certain repair instructions, while this proposed AD would require repair using a method approved by the FAA or EASA.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 11 gliders of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that it would take 0.5 work hour per glider to inspect the MLG installation. The average labor rate is $85 per work hour. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost to inspect the MLG installation on U.S. operators to be $467.50, or $42.50 per glider.
In addition, the FAA estimates that further inspection for damage of an improperly installed MLG would take about 4 work-hours costing $340 per glider. If any damage is found during this MLG inspection, it may vary considerably from glider to glider, and the FAA has no way of estimating a repair cost.
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Stemme AG: Docket No. FAA-2021-0842; Project Identifier 2019-CE-032-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by November 22, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Stemme AG Model Stemme S 12 gliders, serial numbers 12-002 through 12-026, inclusive, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200, Landing Gear System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
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 incorrect installation of an axle connecting the main landing gear (MLG) to the center steel frame of the glider. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the MLG. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in damage to the glider and possible injury to occupants.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
[top] (1) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, visually inspect the MLG
(2) If the MLG installation is not as depicted in Figure 3 of SB P062-980037, before further flight, inspect the MLG installation for damage in accordance with the Actions section, Action 2, in SB P062-980037, except you are not required to contact Stemme if there is damage. Instead, repair any damage using a method approved by the FAA or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
(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 or email: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.
(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; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.
(2) Refer to EASA AD 2019-0130-E, dated June 7, 2019, for more information. You may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2021-0842.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact STEMME AG, Flugplatzstrasse F2, Nr. 6-7, D-15344 Strausberg, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 3341 3612-0, fax: +49 (0) 3341 3612-30; email: airworthiness@stemme.de; website: https://www.stemme.com. 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 (816) 329-4148.
Issued on September 30, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-21934 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P