DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0158; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-040-AD;
Amendment 39-18902; AD 2017-11-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH 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 DG
Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders that are equipped with a Solo
2625 02 engine that has been modified with a fuel injection system
following the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Service Bulletin
(SB)/Technische Mitteilung (TM) 4600-3 ``Fuel Injection System'' and
re-identified as Solo 2625 02i. 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 failure of the connecting rod bearing resulting from too
much load on the rod bearings from the engine control unit. We are
issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 29, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publications listed in the AD as of June 29,
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-
0158; 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 Solo
Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany;
telephone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: aircraft@solo-
germany.com; Internet: http://aircraft.solo-online.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-2017-0158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer,
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 DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model
DG-500MB gliders. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
March 2, 2017 (82 FR 12312). 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:

Several occurrences have been reported of connecting rod bearing
failure.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncommanded
in-flight engine shut-down, possibly resulting in damage to the
powered sailplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Solo Kleinmotoren developed a
software update for the engine control unit (ECU) to reduce the load
on the rod bearings, and issued SB/TM 4600-6, providing instructions
to upload the modified software into the ECU.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a
modification, updating the ECU software.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0158-0002.

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 Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische Mitteilung (English
translation: Service Bulletin), Nr. 4600-6, Ausgabe 1 (English
translation: Issue 1), dated November 16, 2016. The service information
describes procedures for a software update that provides new settings
to the engine control unit (ECU) to lower the load on the bearings of
the crankshaft. 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 the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 3 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 AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $510, or $170 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-2017-
0158; 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: