DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0714; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00589-G;
Amendment 39-21189; AD 2020-16-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Blanik Aircraft CZ s.r.o.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Blanik Aircraft CZ s.r.o. Model L 23 Super-Blanik gliders. This AD
requires a one-time inspection of the rudder control cable attachment
screws and hinge bolts, replacement of the cable attachment screws and
hinge bolts if a crack is found, and reporting the inspection results
to the manufacturer. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked rudder
cable attachment screws. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 28, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 28,
2020.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by September 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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 final rule, contact
Blanik Aircraft CZ s.r.o., Beranovych 65, Letnany, Praha, 199 00, Czech
Republic; phone: +420 731 425 699; internet: https://www.blanik.aero/
customer-support; email: info@blanik.aero. You may view this referenced
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0714.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0714; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; phone: (816)
329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD No. 2020-0068-E, dated March 23, 2020 (referred to after
this as ``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition for Blanik
Aircraft CZ s.r.o. Model L 23 Super-Blanik gliders. The MCAI states:

During a standard maintenance procedure on an L 23 Super-
Blan[iacute]k sailplane, a crack was detected on a rudder control
cable attachment screw.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
rudder control failure, possibly resulting in loss of directional
control of the sailplane.
To address this unsafe condition, BACZ [Blanik Aircraft CZ
s.r.o.] issued the MB [mandatory bulletin] and the IB [information
bulletin] to provide inspection and replacement instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection and, depending on findings, replacement of affected
parts.

Blanik Aircraft CZ s.r.o. advises that reporting by operators and
maintenance facilities indicates that this issue is not an isolated
event. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the
AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0714.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Blanik Mandatory Bulletin Document No. L23/060a,
Revision 2, dated March 17, 2020, which contains procedures for
inspecting the affected parts. The FAA also reviewed Blanik Information
Bulletin Document No. L23/061b, Revision 1, dated March 17, 2020, which
contains procedures for replacing the affected parts. 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.

FAA's Determination

This product has been approved by EASA, and is approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with the European Union, EASA has notified us of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. The FAA
is issuing this AD because it evaluated all the relevant information
provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition is likely to exist
or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires a one-time inspection of the rudder control cable
attachment screws and hinge bolts and, if a crack is found, replacement
of the affected parts as specified in the service information described
previously. This AD also requires reporting certain information to the
manufacturer.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because the required corrective actions must be accomplished before
further flight. Therefore, the FAA finds good cause that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition,
for the reason stated above, the FAA finds that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0714;
Product Identifier MCAI-2020-00589-G'' at the beginning of your
comments. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing
date and may amend this AD because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact it receives about this AD.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim
Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 91 gliders of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of parts that
might need these replacements.

On-Condition Costs

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection of information are
mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX
76177-1524.

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.
The FAA is 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

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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

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 airworthiness
directive (AD):