2017-02-11: Flight Controls

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: 2017-02-11 Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.: Amendment 39-; Docket No. FAA-2016-9382; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-032-AD. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 17, 2017. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. ASK 21 gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are modified with a rudder hand control system using either ASK 21 Technical Note No. 25, dated February 16, 1993, or ASK 21 Technical Note No. 30, dated January 22, 2007. (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 cable slack in gliders equipped with a rudder hand control system. We are issuing this proposed AD to correct any excess slack in the rudder hand control system, which could result in a short-term blockage of the rudder control system and reduced control. (f) Actions and Compliance Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through (4) of this AD: (1) If the glider is equipped with a rudder actuated by means of a hand lever at the left cockpit wall in the front pilot seat by ASK 21 Technical Note (TN) No. 25, dated February 16, 1993, within the next 60 days after March 17, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), replace the flight manual (FM) and maintenance manual (MM) pages with the following pages in ASK 21 TN No. 38, dated May 31, 2016: (i) FM: Check List/1, 16a, 19.1a., and 21. (ii) MM: 13, 15. (2) If the glider is equipped with a rudder actuated by means of a hand lever at the left cockpit wall in the rear pilot seat by ASK 21 TN No. 30, dated January 22, 2007, within the next 60 days after March 17, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), replace the FM and MM pages with the following pages in ASK 21 TN No. 38, dated May 31, 2016: (i) FM: Check List/1, 16a, 18a, 19b, 19c, 19.1a, and 21. (ii) MM: 13, 15. (3) For all affected gliders, within the next 60 days after March 17, 2017 (the effective date of this AD) and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 12 months, inspect the rudder cable tension and make any necessary corrections following the instructions from FM page 19.1a, Checking and Adjusting of the Cable Tension, as specified in ASK 21 TN No. 38, dated May 31, 2016. (4) For all affected gliders, after March 17, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), any glider modified with a rudder hand control system in accordance with ASK 21 TN No. 25 or TN No. 30 must also have the FM and MM amended following the instructions in ASK 21 TN No. 38, dated May 31, 2016. (g) Pilot Authorization In addition to the provisions of 14 CFR 43.3 and 43.7, the actions required by paragraph (f)(1) through (2) of this AD may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the glider records showing compliance with this AD following 14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. (h) 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 AMOCs for 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 airplane 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. (i) Related Information Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 2016-0192, dated September 28,2016; ASK 21 Technical Note No. 25, dated February 16, 1993; and ASK 21 Technical Note No. 30, dated January 22, 2007, for related information. The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2016-9382-0002. (j) 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) Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. ASK 21 Technical Note No. 38, dated May 31, 2016. (ii) Reserved. (3) For Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co service information identified in this AD, contact Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-Schleicher-Str. 1, D-36163 Poppenhausen, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 06658 89-0; fax: +49 (0) 06658 89-40; Internet: http://www.alexander-schleicher.de/; email: info@alexander-schleicher.de. (4) You may review 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. In addition, you can access this service information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9382. (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.