AD 2015-13-03

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' sailplanes. 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 detachment of the rudder cable fitting block from the fuselage. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

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

0 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]

0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2015-13-03 Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'': Amendment 39-18190; Docket No. FAA-2015-0951; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-007-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 3, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' sailplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by 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 detachment of the rudder cable fitting block from the fuselage. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of the rudder cable fitting block from the fuselage, which if not detected and corrected, could result in reduced control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD:
(1) Within 30 days after August 13, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the area around both the left-hand (LH) and the right-hand (RH) rudder cable fitting blocks following paragraph 3.1. of the INSTRUCTIONS section in Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014.
(2) If, during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, any crack or fitting block detachment is found, before further flight, repair and reinforce the attachment of both the LH and RH rudder cable fitting blocks. Do this repair and reinforcement following paragraph 3.2. of the INSTRUCTIONS section in Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014.
(3) Unless already done following the requirement in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, within the next 12 months after August 3, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), reinforce the attachment of both the LH and RH rudder cable fitting blocks. Do this reinforcement following paragraph 3.2. of the INSTRUCTIONS section in Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCsfor this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: 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. Before using any approved AMOC on any sailplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(h) Related Information

Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 2015-0046, datedMarch 16, 2015, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0951-0002.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For PZL-Bielsko service information identified in this AD, contact Allstar PZL Glider, Sp. z o. o., ul. Cieszynska 325, 43-300 Bielsko-Biala, Poland; telephone: +48 33 812 50 26; fax: +48 33 812 37 39; email:

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techsupport@szd.com.pl; Internet: http://szd.com.pl/en/products/szd-50-3-puchacz.
(4) You may view this service informationat 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. In addition, you can access this service information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-0951.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to add an AD that would apply to all Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' sailplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2015 (80 FR 21191). 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:

An occurrence was reported involving a SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' sailplane, where a rudder cable fitting block, located in the forward part of the fuselage, detached after application of a high load on the steering pedal during spin recovery operation. Subsequent investigations determined that the failure was either caused by a manufacturing deficiency or originated by a crack.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to further cases of rudder cable fitting block detachment, resulting in reduced control of the sailplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Allstar PZL issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014, to provide inspection and reinforcement instructions.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires accomplishment of a one-time inspection of both (right hand (RH) and left hand (LH)) rudder cable fitting blocks to verify proper attachment to the fuselage shell and, depending on finding(s), a repair. This AD also requires reinforcement of the affected structural area.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0951-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 21191, April 17, 2015) 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 (80 FR 21191, April 17, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 21191, April 17, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Allstar PZL Glider Service Bulletin BE-063/SZD-50-3/ 2014 ``Puchacz'', dated December 14, 2014. The service bulletin describes procedures for inspecting the area around the left-hand and right-hand rudder cable fitting blocks for cracks and detachment and making all necessary repairs. 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 5 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the inspection requirement of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the inspection requirement of this AD on U.S. operators to be $425, or $85 per product.

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In addition, we estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per product to comply with the modification requirement of this AD and will require parts costing $100, for a cost of $270 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-2015- 0951; 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.