DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0951; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-007-AD;
Amendment 39-18190; AD 2015-13-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-
Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Sailplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko''
Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' sailplanes. 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 detachment of the rudder cable fitting block from the
fuselage. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 3, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 3,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
0951; 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 Allstar PZL
Glider, Sp. z o. o., ul. Cieszynska 325, 43-300 Bielsko-Biala, Poland;
telephone: +48 33 812 50 26; fax: +48 33 812 37 39; email:
techsupport@szd.com.pl; Internet: http://szd.com.pl/en/products/szd-50-3-puchacz.
You may view 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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015- 0951.

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 add an AD that would apply to all Przedsiebiorstwo
Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Model SZD-50-3
``Puchacz'' sailplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register
on April 17, 2015 (80 FR 21191). The 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:

An occurrence was reported involving a SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz''
sailplane, where a rudder cable fitting block, located in the
forward part of the fuselage, detached after application of a high
load on the steering pedal during spin recovery operation.
Subsequent investigations determined that the failure was either
caused by a manufacturing deficiency or originated by a crack.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
further cases of rudder cable fitting block detachment, resulting in
reduced control of the sailplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Allstar PZL issued Service
Bulletin (SB) No. BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014, to provide inspection and
reinforcement instructions.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires accomplishment
of a one-time inspection of both (right hand (RH) and left hand
(LH)) rudder cable fitting blocks to verify proper attachment to the
fuselage shell and, depending on finding(s), a repair. This AD also
requires reinforcement of the affected structural area.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.
regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0951-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 21191, April 17,
2015) 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 (80 FR 21191, April 17, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 21191, April 17, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/
2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014. The service bulletin
describes procedures for inspecting the area around the left-hand and
right-hand rudder cable fitting blocks for cracks and detachment and
making all necessary repairs. 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 the
ADDRESSES section of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 5 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the inspection requirement of this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the inspection
requirement of this AD on U.S. operators to be $425, or $85 per
product.

In addition, we estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per
product to comply with the modification requirement of this AD and will
require parts costing $100, for a cost of $270 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 Docket No. FAA-2015-
0951; 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: