DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0343; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-005-AD;
Amendment 39-18936; AD 2017-13-06]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all DG
Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-400, DG-500M, DG-500MB, DG-800A, and DG-800B
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 a manufacturing defect in
certain textile fabric covered fuel hoses, which could cause the fuel
hose to fail. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 31, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 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-
0343; 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 DG
Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal Weg 2, D-76646 Bruchsal, Germany;
telephone: +49 (0)7251 3202-0; email: info@dg-flugzeugbau.de; Internet:
http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/en/?noredirect=en_US. 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-2017-0343.

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 all DG Flugzeugbau GmbH
Models DG-400, DG-500M, DG-500MB, DG-800A, and DG-800B gliders. The
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2017 (82 FR
18722). 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:

During service and annual inspection, DG found that some fuel
hoses with textile fabric covering, installed from the beginning of
the year 2015, had become weak or untight with time. The suspected
root cause for this premature degradation is a manufacturing defect
of a certain batch of fuel hoses.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to
kinking of the fuel hoses, possibly resulting in a reduced fuel
supply and consequent partial or total loss of available power.

To address this unsafe condition, DG-Flugzeugbau published
Technical Note TN 800-44, 500-10, DG-SS-02 providing inspection and
replacement instructions.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
inspection and replacement of the affected fuel hoses.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0343-0002.

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 this 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 DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical note No. 800-44, 500-10,
DG-SS-02, dated November 9, 2016, and co-published as one document; DG-
400 diagram 8, 6 TN DG-SS-02; DG-500M diagram 14, TN 500/10; DG-500MB
diagram 14, TN 500/10; DG-800A/LA diagram 11, TN 800/44; DG-800B Solo
2625 diagram 11, TN 800/44; DG-800B Solo 2625 diagram 11a, TN 800/44;
DG-800B Solo 2625 diagram 11b, TN 800/44; and DG-800B ab W.Nr. 8-155/
from ser. no. 8-155 on, diagram 11d, TN 800/44, all diagrams issued
October 2016. In combination, the service information describes
procedures for inspecting and replacing the fuel hoses on different
aircraft model variants covered by the applicability of this AD. 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 59 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per product to
comply with each inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the inspection cost of this AD
on U.S. operators to be $10,030, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that each replacement action required by
this AD will take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $500.
Based on these figures, we estimate the replacement cost of this AD on
U.S. operators to be $69,620, or $1,180 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-2017-0343;
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: