DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0019; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-038-AD;
Amendment 39-18861; AD 2017-08-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GROB Aircraft AG Gliders

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 GROB
Aircraft AG Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B 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 broken pivots of the tail wheel mounting bracket resulting
from corrosion and damage due to wear. We are issuing this AD to
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 31, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of May 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
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 GROB
Aircraft AG, Product Support, Lettenbachstrasse 9, D-86874
Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, telephone: + 49 (0) 8268-998-105; fax:
+ 49 (0) 8268-998-200; email: productsupport@grob-aircraft.com;
Internet: grob-aircraft.com. 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 Docket No. FAA-
2017-0019.

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 by adding an AD that would apply to GROB Aircraft AG Models
GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B gliders. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5456). 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:

Occurrences were reported of broken pivots of the tail wheel
mounting bracket. Subsequent investigation attributed these events
to corrosion and damage due to wear.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
loss of rudder control, resulting in reduced control of the powered
sailplane.
To address this potentially unsafe condition, Grob Aircraft AG
issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 817-70 (hereafter referred
to as `the MSB' in this [EASA] AD) to provide inspection and repair
instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of the tail wheel mounting bracket and,
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective
action(s).

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0019-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM 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 for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed GROB Aircraft AG Service Bulletin No. MSB817-70, dated
September 28, 2016, which describes procedures for inspection of the
tail mounting bracket; and GROB Aircraft AG Repair Instruction RI 817-
015, dated September 16, 2016, which provides instructions for any
necessary repair. 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 57 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $50 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $17,385, or $305 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 5 work-hours and require parts costing $100, for a cost of
$525 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products
that may need these actions.

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-2017-
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: