Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Model 60 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55812-55814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24074]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-408-AD; Amendment 39-13314; AD 2003-19-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Model 60 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to certain Learjet Model 60 airplanes, that currently 
requires inspection to detect bends in or damage to the fuel crossflow 
tube; inspection to determine clearance between the fuel crossflow tube 
and the flight control cables; and replacement or repair of the tube, 
if necessary. This amendment requires a review of airplane maintenance 
records or an inspection to determine if a fuel crossflow tube having a 
certain part number is installed; and follow-on/corrective actions, as 
applicable. This amendment also expands the applicability of the 
existing AD to include additional airplanes. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent chafing and consequent failure of the 
fuel crossflow tube due to inadequate clearance between the tube and 
the flight control cables, which could result in loss of fuel from one 
fuel tank during normal operating conditions or loss of fuel from both 
main fuel tanks during fuel cross-feeding operations. This action is 
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective November 3, 2003.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of November 3, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Learjet, Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, Kansas 67209-
2942. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4148; fax (316) 
946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 95-14-09, 
amendment 39-9303 (60 FR 36984, July 19, 1995), which is applicable to 
certain Learjet Model 60 airplanes, was published in the Federal 
Register on June 18, 2003 (68 FR 36502). That action proposed to 
require inspection to detect bends in or damage to the fuel crossflow 
tube; inspection to determine clearance between the fuel crossflow tube 
and the flight control cables; and replacement or repair of the tube, 
if necessary. That action also proposed to require a review of airplane 
maintenance records or an inspection to determine if a fuel crossflow 
tube having a certain part number is installed; and follow-on/
corrective actions, as applicable. That action also proposed to expand 
the applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

[[Page 55813]]

Explanation of Change to Proposed Rule

    In paragraph (a) of the proposed rule, we inadvertently specified 
an incorrect part number. We have revised this AD to specify the 
correct part number.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes previously 
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Change to Labor Rate Estimate

    We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several 
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various 
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to 
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work 
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, reflects 
this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 145 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 109 airplanes of U.S. registry 
will be affected by this AD.
    It will take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish 
the review of airplane maintenance records/inspection required in this 
AD action, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the requirements of this AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $14,170, or $130 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this 
AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
``ADDRESSES.''

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-9303 (60 FR 36984, 
July 19, 1995), and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
amendment 39-13314, to read as follows:

2003-19-11 Learjet: Amendment 39-13314. Docket 2000-NM-408-AD. 
Supersedes AD 95-14-09, Amendment 39-9303.

    Applicability: Model 60 airplanes, serial numbers 60-001 through 
60-145 inclusive, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent chafing and consequent failure of the fuel crossflow 
tube due to inadequate clearance between the tube and the flight 
control cables, which could result in loss of fuel from one fuel 
tank during normal operating conditions or loss of fuel from both 
main fuel tanks during fuel cross-feeding operations, accomplish the 
following:

Part Identification

    (a) Within 25 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the fuel crossflow tube to determine whether part number (P/
N) 6026020-005 is installed. Instead of inspecting the tube, a 
review of airplane maintenance records is acceptable if the P/N of 
the tube can be positively determined from that review.

Clearance Measurement and Corrective Action

    (b) For all airplanes: If P/N 6026020-005 is found installed 
during the review or inspection required by paragraph (a) of this 
AD, before further flight, measure the clearance between the fuel 
crossflow tube and the flight control cables to determine if it is 
at least 0.35 inch, per paragraph 2.B.(8) of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A60-28-3, Revision 
2, dated October 26, 1998.
    (1) If the clearance is 0.35 inch or more, no further action is 
required by this paragraph.
    (2) If the clearance is less than 0.35 inch, before further 
flight, repair per a method approved by the Manager, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Part Replacement, Measurement, and Repair

    (c) For airplanes having serial numbers 60-001 through 60-055: 
If P/N 6026020-005 is not found installed during the review or 
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, within 90 days 
after accomplishing the review or inspection, replace the existing 
fuel crossflow tube with a new fuel crossflow tube having P/N 
6026020-005, and measure the clearance between the newly installed 
fuel crossflow tube and the flight control cables, per paragraph 
2.A. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service 
Bulletin 60-28-4, Revision 2, dated August 22, 2001.
    (1) If the clearance is 0.35 inch or more, no further action is 
required by this paragraph.
    (2) If the clearance is less than 0.35 inch, before further 
flight, repair per a method approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, 
FAA.
    (d) For airplanes having serial numbers 60-056 through 60-145: 
If P/N 6026020-005 is not found installed during the review or 
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, within 90 days 
after accomplishing the review or inspection, replace the existing 
fuel crossflow tube with a new fuel crossflow tube having P/N 
6026020-005, and measure the clearance between the newly installed 
fuel crossflow tube and the flight control cables to determine if 
the clearance is at least 0.35 inch, per paragraph 2.B. of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin 
A60-28-3, Revision 2, dated October 26, 1998.
    (1) If the clearance is 0.35 inch or more, no further action is 
required by this paragraph.
    (2) If the clearance is less than 0.35 inch, before further 
flight, repair per a method approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, 
FAA.

    Note 1: Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A60-28-3, Revision 2, 
Figure 1, Detail D, incorrectly identifies the fuel crossflow tube 
to be installed as P/N 6026020-001. The manufacturer is aware of 
this error and plans to correct the part number in the next revision 
of the alert service bulletin.


[[Page 55814]]



Part Installation

    (e) As of the effective date of this AD, only fuel crossflow 
tubes having P/N 6026020-005 shall be installed on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (f) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Wichita ACO, 
FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance 
(AMOCs) for this AD.

Incorporation by Reference

    (g) Unless otherwise specified by this AD, the actions shall be 
done in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A60-28-3, 
Revision 2, dated October 26, 1998; and Bombardier Service Bulletin 
60-28-4, Revision 2, dated August 22, 2001; as applicable. This 
incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from Learjet, Inc., One Learjet Way, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209-2942. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas; 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Effective Date

    (h) This amendment becomes effective on November 3, 2003.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 16, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24074 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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