DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0014; Product Identifier 2017-CE-044-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-08-
09 for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500MB gliders that are equipped
with a Solo 2625 02 engine modified with a fuel injection system
following the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische
Mitteilung (TM)/Service Bulletin (SB) 4600-3 "Fuel Injection System"
and identified as Solo 2625 02i. 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 the potential of an in-flight shut-down and engine fire
due to failure of the connecting stud for the two fuel injector mounts
of the engine redundancy system on gliders equipped with a Solo 2625
02i engine. This proposed AD adds the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-
1000M glider equipped with Solo 2625 02i engines to the applicability.
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 March 2, 2018.

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
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 review
copies of the 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-2018-
0014; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (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-2018-0014;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-044-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

We issued AD 2017-08-09, Amendment 39-18858 (82 FR 18694; April 21,
2017) ("AD 2017-08-09"). That AD required actions intended to address
an unsafe condition on DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-500MB gliders and
was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. That
MCAI is EASA AD No.: 2014-0269, dated December 11, 2014 (referred to
after this as "the MCAI").

Since we issued AD 2017-08-09, the FAA has now type certificated
the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000M glider and that glider model is
equipped with a Solo 2625 02i engine.

You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0014.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH issued Technische Mitteilung Nr. (English
translation: Service Bulletin No.) 4600-5, Ausgabe 2 (English
translation: issue 2), dated December 12, 2014, approved for
incorporation by reference on May 26, 2017 (82 FR 18694; April 21,
2017). The service information describes procedures for changing the
fuel injector mounts for the engine redundancy system and securing of
the connection of the lower to the upper engine mount. 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 6 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $67 per product.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $912, or $152 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.

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,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances 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 removing Amendment 39-18858 (82 FR
18694; April 21, 2017), and adding the following new AD: