AD 2011-01-03 Airworthiness Directives; GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG Models G102 ASTIR CS, G102 CLUB ASTIR III, G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, and G102 STANDARD ASTIR III Gliders

This AD applies to the GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO KG gliders Model G102 ASTIR CS, serial numbers (SNs) 1001 through 1536; Model G102 CLUB ASTIR III, SNs 5501 (suffix C) through 5652 (suffix C); Model G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIb, SNs 5501 (suffix Cb) through 5652 (suffix Cb); and Model G102 STANDARD ASTIR III, SNs 5501 (suffix S) through 5652 (suffix S), that are: (1) Equipped with any wing spar spigot assembly that has not been replaced following Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and (2) Are certificated in any category.

Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), inspect both wing spar spigot assemblies for cracks using a dye-penetrant or magnetic-particle method following Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990. The use of the magnification method is prohibited. Note 1: If dye-penetrant method is used, great care should be exercised when cleaning and/or etching the surfaces and interpreting surface faults. (2) Replace the wing main spigot assembly following Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, using whichever of the following compliance times that apply: (i) If cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight; or (ii) If no cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, within the next 15 months after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD). FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: (1) The MCAI compliance time required the wing main spigot assembly to be inspected before the next flight and replacement of the wing spar spigot assembly no later than December 31, 1992. This AD requires inspection within the next 25 hours TIS after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), and replacement prior to further flight after the inspection where cracks are found or 15 months after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), if no cracks are found. (2) In lieu of authorizing a 10x magnifier for inspection as specified in the MCAI, this AD requires you use either a dye-penetrant or magnetic-particle inspection method. (3) After the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was issued, we found that the material required for the repair was not available in the United States and an undue cost burden would have been placed on operators to get the repair material from Germany. This AD adds Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009. This repair instruction lists an alternate resin/hardener that is available in the United States. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 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. Send information to ATTN of one of the following individuals: (i) Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; or (ii) Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090. (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. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, 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 current 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 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI Federal Republic of Germany Luftfahrt-Bundesamt AD 91-5/2 Grob, dated February 1, 1991; Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Grob Aircraft; Lettenbachstr. 9; Tussenhausen-Mattsies; Head of Customer Service & Support, Germany; telephone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; E-mail: productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; Web site: http://www.grob-aircraft.com. (3) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 21, 2010. Earl Lawrence, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2010-32753 Filed 1-7-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), inspect both wing spar spigot assemblies for cracks using a dye-penetrant or magnetic-particle method following Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990. The use of the magnification method is prohibited. Note 1: If dye-penetrant method is used, great care should be exercised when cleaning and/or etching the surfaces and interpreting surface faults. (2) Replace the wing main spigot assembly following Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, using whichever of the following compliance times that apply: (i) If cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight; or (ii) If no cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, within the next 15 months after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD). FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: (1) The MCAI compliance time required the wing main spigot assembly to be inspected before the next flight and replacement of the wing spar spigot assembly no later than December 31, 1992. This AD requires inspection within the next 25 hours TIS after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), and replacement prior to further flight after the inspection where cracks are found or 15 months after February 14, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), if no cracks are found. (2) In lieu of authorizing a 10x magnifier for inspection as specified in the MCAI, this AD requires you use either a dye-penetrant or magnetic-particle inspection method. (3) After the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was issued, we found that the material required for the repair was not available in the United States and an undue cost burden would have been placed on operators to get the repair material from Germany. This AD adds Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009. This repair instruction lists an alternate resin/hardener that is available in the United States. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 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. Send information to ATTN of one of the following individuals: (i) Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; or (ii) Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090. (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. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, 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 current 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 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI Federal Republic of Germany Luftfahrt-Bundesamt AD 91-5/2 Grob, dated February 1, 1991; Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Grob Luft-und Raumfahrt Service Bulletin TM 306-29; TM 320-5, issue date: October 11, 1990; and Grob Aircraft Repair Instructions No. RI-GROB-001, dated May 14, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Grob Aircraft; Lettenbachstr. 9; Tussenhausen-Mattsies; Head of Customer Service & Support, Germany; telephone: +49 (0) 8268 998 139; fax: +49 (0) 8268 998 200; E-mail: productsupport@grob-aircraft.com; Web site: http://www.grob-aircraft.com. (3) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 21, 2010. Earl Lawrence, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2010-32753 Filed 1-7-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P