AD 2012-10-11 Airworthiness Directives; Burkhart GROB Luft- und Raumfahrt GmbH Powered Sailplanes

This AD applies to Burkhart GROB Luft- und Raumfahrt GmbH Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B powered sailplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) Within 3 months after July 9, 2012 (the effective date of this AD): (i) Inspect, from the top, the front and rear side of the nose plate, part number (P/N) 109-2160.01, in the vertical stabilizer for corrosion and flaking following Part A of the Accomplishment Instructions in Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB817-58, dated November 24, 2011. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 months. (ii) Install an access panel on the left side of the vertical stabilizer following Grob Aircraft Repair Instruction Doc. No. RI 817-010/1, issue date December 20, 2011, as specified in Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB 817-060, dated November 24, 2011. (iii) Through the access panel installed as required in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this AD, inspect, from below, the nose plate, P/N 109-2160.01, for corrosion and flaking following Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions in Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB817-58, dated November 24, 2011. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 months. (2) If any corrosion or flaking is found on the nose plate, P/N 109-2160.01, during any inspection required in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) or (f)(1)(iii) of this AD, replace P/N 109-2160.01 with a serviceable part. Do the replacement following Grob Aircraft Repair Instruction Doc. No. RI 817-009, issue date November 17, 2011, as specified in Grob Aircraft Service Bulletin No. MSB817-58, dated November 24, 2011. After replacement, continue with the repetitive inspections required in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(iii) of this AD.

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 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. (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.

This AD results from 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 excessive corrosion on the nose plate in the vertical stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion and flaking on the nose plate, which could cause the vertical stabilizer nose plate to fail and result in loss of control of the sailplane.

None.