Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders, 51838-51840 [2021-20034]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 178 (Friday, September 17, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51838-51840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20034]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0792; Project Identifier AD-2020-00593-G]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500MB and DG-1000M gliders with a 
Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Solo Model 2625 02i engine installed. This 
proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country 
to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The 
MCAI describes the unsafe condition as an error in the engine control 
unit (ECU) software. This proposed AD would require updating the ECU 
software. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 1, 
2021.

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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Solo 
Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, D71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; 
phone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: germany.com">[email protected]germany.com; website: https://aircraft.solo.global/gb/. You may view 
this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0792; 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 NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; 
phone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0792; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-00593-G'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim 
Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2020-0056, dated March 13, 2020 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH 
Solo Model 2625 02 engines, variation 02i with electronic fuel 
injection, installed on but not limited to Binder Motorenbau, DG-
Flugzeugbau and Schempp-Hirth powered sailplanes (gliders). The MCAI 
states:

    An error was found in the ECU affected SW [software] that can 
cause brief injection of fuel into one cylinder when the ECU is 
activated.
    This condition, if not corrected, could increase the time needed 
to (re)start the engine in flight, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the powered sailplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, SOLO Kleinmotoren 
GmbH, together with the ECU manufactuerer [sic], developed an ECU SW 
update and issued the SB [service

[[Page 51839]]

bulletin] accordingly, providing installation instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires an 
update of the ECU software.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0792.
    The Model 2625 02i engine does not have an FAA type certificate. 
For Model DG-1000M gliders, this engine is part of the glider type 
certification. For Model DG-500MB gliders, this engine may be installed 
as a Model 2525 02 engine modified with a fuel injection system and re-
identified as a Model 2625 02i engine.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Service Bulletin No. 4600-
11, dated August 19, 2019. This service information specifies 
procedures for updating the ECU software to a version that fixes a 
software error found in previous ECU software versions. 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require updating the ECU software version 
and would prohibit installing software version V517 Revision 7 or 
earlier.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 4 gliders of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that it would take 
about 2 work-hours per glider to comply with the requirements of this 
AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these 
figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$680 or $170 per glider.

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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

DG Flugzeugbau GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2021-0792; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-00593-G.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 1, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500MB and DG-
1000M gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, 
with a Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Solo Model 2625 02i engine installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7300, Engine Fuel 
and Control.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as an error in the 
engine control unit (ECU) software. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent an injection of fuel into one cylinder when the ECU is 
activated. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
difficulty starting the engine and reduced control of the glider.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, update 
the ECU software to software version V517 Revision 8 in accordance 
with the Actions in Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Service Bulletin No. 
4600-11, dated August 19, 2019.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install ECU 
software version V517 Revision 7 or earlier on any glider with a 
Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Solo Model 2625 02i engine.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, 
Related Information, or email: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector,

[[Page 51840]]

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight 
standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jim Rutherford, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2020-0056, dated March 13, 2020, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0792.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Solo 
Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 600152, D71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; 
phone: +49 703 1301-0; fax: +49 703 1301-136; email: germany.com">[email protected]germany.com; website: https://aircraft.solo.global/gb/. You may view 
this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on September 13, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20034 Filed 9-16-21; 8:45 am]
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