AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Alexander Schleicher, Segelflugzeugbau Model ASK 21 gliders. This AD
results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued 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 inadequate guidance for spin training
operations. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 8, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 8, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0019; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Alexander
Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-Schleicher-Str. 1, D-
36163 Poppenhausen, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 06658 89-0; fax: +49 (0)
06658 89-40; Internet: http://www.alexander-schleicher.de/; email:
info@alexander-schleicher.de. You may review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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:
jim.rutherford@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Alexander Schleicher,
Segelflugzeugbau Model ASK 21 gliders. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on January 15, 2014 (79 FR 2595). That NPRM proposed
to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based
on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by
an aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

ASK 21 sailplane spin characteristics can be controlled using
tail ballast weights, ensuring that pilots of all weights can
achieve the same spin results. Although the tail ballast weights
were designed to control the centre of gravity of the sailplane,
these weights significantly affect the inertia terms that govern the
sailplane response to spin manoeuvres. Schleicher issued a Technical
Note (TN) Nr. 4 in 1980 (mainly used in Switzerland) to provide
instructions for the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for spin training.
These instructions did not provide proper protection against
accomplishment of single seated flight with forgotten spin ballast
installed.
Schleicher issued a TN Nr. 4a in 2004 to provide instructions to
the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) amendments to address spin ballast
installation and facilitate two seated spin training. However, these
instructions did not provide proper guidance for the spin entry
techniques. The safety margin in respect to inertia limits was
marginal for pilot weights less than 70 kg on the front seat.
Furthermore, in one case, it was observed that a control surface
gap was not sealed in accordance with design data approved for that
aircraft.
Single seated flight with forgotten spin ballast installed, if
not corrected, could lead to sailplane operation beyond its centre
of gravity limits. Flights with low inertia momentum around Y axis
(as a result of the low weight crew) could result in reduced safety
margin in respect to inertia limits.
Improperly sealed control surface gap during spin recovery could
lead to significant delay of recovery and reduced control of the
sailplane.
To address these potential unsafe conditions, Schleicher issued
TN Nr. 4b for ASK 21 model sailplanes and TN Nr. 7 for ASK 21 Mi
model sailplanes to amend the associated AFM and Aircraft
Maintenance Manual (AMM) procedures and installation of a cockpit
placard, as applicable to sailplane model.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires amendment of
the AFM, AMM and installation of a cockpit placard.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0019-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 2595, January 15,
2014) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (79 FR 2595, January 15, 2014) for correcting the unsafe
condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 2595, January 15, 2014).

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 59 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 2.5 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $250 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $27,287.50, or $462.50 per product.

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 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),
(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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2014-0019; 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 the NPRM, 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.

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

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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: