DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-1068; Product Identifier 2017-CE-034-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Intreprinderea De Constructii
Aeronautice Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Intreprinderea De Constructii Aeronautice Model IS-28B2 gliders. This
proposed AD results from 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 cracks at stringers in the rear
fuselage of several Model IS-28B2 gliders. We are issuing this proposed
AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December
29, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Aeroclubul Romaniei, Bd.Lascar Catargiu, Nr.54, cod: 010673, Sector 1,
Bucharest, Romania; telephone: 011+40 021-312-36-19; fax: 011+40 021-
312-36-19; Internet: www.aeroclubulromaniei.ro; email:
www.aeroclubulromaniei.ro/contact/.
You may review this referenced service information at the FAA,
Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri
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 on the Internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1068;
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 this proposed AD, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090;
email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-1068;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-034-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed
AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD
No.: 2016-0233, dated November 23, 2016 (referred to after this as
"the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for Intreprinderea De
Constructii Aeronautice Model IS-28B2 gliders. The MCAI states:
Cracks were reportedly detected, located at stringers in the
rear fuselage of a number of IS-28B2 sailplanes. The subsequent
investigation attributed these cracks to induction of a pre-stress
during the manufacturing process of the affected parts.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
reduced structural strength, possibly resulting in a loss of
structural integrity of the sailplane.
To address this potentially unsafe condition, Aeroclubul
Romaniei (AR) issued Service Bulletin (SB) SB-IS-28B2-AR-01 to
provide inspection instructions. AR is currently developing
modification(s) to provide a design solution for the affected
sailplanes.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of the structure of the rear fuselage and,
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective
action(s).
This [EASA] AD is considered to be an interim action and further
AD action may follow.
Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Aeroclubul Romaniei has issued Aeroclubul Romaniei Service Bulletin
No.: SB-IS-28B2-AR-01, Revision 003, dated February 9, 2017 (ARSB No.
AR-01), and Aeroclubul Romaniei Service Bulletin No.: SB-IS-28B2-AR-02,
Revision 01, dated February 24, 2017 (ARSB No. AR-02). ARSB No. AR-01
describes procedures for inspection of the rear fuselage area to detect
any cracks, ruptures, or corrosion. ARSB No. AR-02 describes procedures
for installation of a modification to the upper stringer of the rear
fuselage. 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 NPRM.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 30 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $5,100, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 15 work-hours and require parts costing $1,000, for a cost
of $2,275 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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, and
domestic business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy
and Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
We 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) 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.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
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