Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Inc. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24349-24351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9557]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1258; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-184-AD; 
Amendment 39-17033; AD 2012-08-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Learjet Inc. Model 60 airplanes. This AD was prompted by two incidents 
of swapped fire extinguishing wires. This AD requires inspecting the 
electrical leads routed to the fire extinguishing containers for proper 
identification and missing labels, and to ensure the electrical leads 
are connected to the correct squibs; and corrective actions if 
necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent the extinguishing agent of 
the fire extinguishing container from being delivered to the wrong 
engine in the event of an engine fire, and a consequent uncontrolled 
fire.

DATES: This AD is effective May 29, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Learjet, Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, Kansas 67209-2942; telephone 
316-946-2000; fax 316-946-2220; email [email protected]; 
Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building

[[Page 24350]]

Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Galstad, Aerospace Engineer, 
Mechanical Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4135; fax: 
316-946-4107; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 30, 2011 (76 FR 
74010). That NPRM proposed to require inspecting the electrical leads 
routed to the fire extinguishing containers for proper identification 
and missing labels, and to ensure the electrical leads are connected to 
the correct squibs; and corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
(76 FR 74010, November 30, 2011) and the FAA's response.

Request To Revise Compliance Time

    The single commenter, SpiritJets, LLC, stated that the wording of 
the compliance time in paragraph (g) of the NPRM (76 FR 74010, November 
30, 2011) appears to be inaccurate because many of those airplanes do 
not have auxiliary power units (APU) installed. The compliance time in 
the NPRM is worded as follows: ``Within 300 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD, or at the next auxiliary power unit (APU) 
removal, whichever occurs first * * *''
    We infer that the commenter requests we remove the reference to the 
next APU removal from the compliance time. We find that clarification 
is necessary. Paragraph (g) of this AD applies to all airplanes 
identified in the applicability (i.e., paragraph (c) of this AD). 
Therefore, if an APU is not installed on an airplane that is identified 
in paragraph (c) of this AD, ``within 300 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD'' is the appropriate compliance time for 
accomplishing the requirements of the AD on that airplane. For 
clarification purposes, we have revised paragraph (g) of this AD to add 
paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2), which more clearly specify the compliance 
times for airplanes with and without an APU.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the change described previously and minor editorial changes. We 
have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 74010, November 30, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 74010, November 30, 2011).
    We also determined that this change will not increase the economic 
burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 232 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost           Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.......................  3 work-hours x $85                   0               $255            $59,160
                                    per hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary modification 
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this 
modification:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Action                              Labor cost               Parts cost      Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrective actions.........................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =                 $8                $93
                                              $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.
    We are 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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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),

[[Page 24351]]

    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2012-08-16 Learjet Inc.: Amendment 39-17033; Docket No. FAA-2011-
1258; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-184-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 29, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Learjet Inc. Model 60 airplanes, certificated 
in any category, serial numbers 60-002 through 60-366 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2620, Extinguishing system.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by two incidents of swapped fire 
extinguishing wires, which could cause the extinguishing agent of 
the fire extinguishing container to be delivered to the wrong engine 
in the event of an engine fire, and a consequent uncontrolled fire. 
We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Corrective Actions

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) 
of this AD: Inspect the electrical leads routed to the fire 
extinguishing containers for proper identification and missing 
labels, and to ensure the electrical leads are connected to the 
correct squibs, as specified in Bombardier Service Bulletin 60-26-4, 
dated May 2, 2011. Do the inspection in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 60-26-4, 
dated May 2, 2011. If any misidentification is found, or if any 
label is missing, or if the electrical leads are not connected to 
the correct squibs, as specified in Bombardier Service Bulletin 60-
26-4, dated May 2, 2011: Before further flight, do all applicable 
corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 60-26-4, dated May 2, 
2011.
    (1) For airplanes equipped with an APU: Within 300 flight hours 
after the effective date of this AD, or at the next auxiliary power 
unit (APU) removal, whichever occurs first.
    (2) For airplanes not equipped with an APU: Within 300 flight 
hours after the effective date of this AD.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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 ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact James Galstad, 
Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-
116W, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-
946-4135; fax: 316-946-4107; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information:
    (i) Bombardier Service Bulletin 60-26-4, dated May 2, 2011.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Learjet, Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, Kansas 67209-2942; 
telephone 316-946-2000; fax 316-946-2220; email 
[email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 13, 2012.
John P. Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9557 Filed 4-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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