Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Inc. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12063-12065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03715]



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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 28, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 12063]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9388; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-145-AD; 
Amendment 39-18810; AD 2017-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Learjet Inc. Model 36A airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report 
indicating that an aileron cable failed on an airplane during a tension 
check and a determination that Model 36A airplanes were not included in 
AD 2005-13-36, which addresses this issue for other Learjet Inc. 
airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the center ball of 
the aileron control cables for a defective swage, and corrective 
actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 4, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 9, 
2005 (70 FR 38578, July 5, 2005).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Learjet Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, KS 67209-2942; 
telephone 316-946-2000; fax 316-946-2220; email 
[email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may 
view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also 
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9388.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9388; 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 Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Ristow, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Dwight D. 
Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: 316-946-4120; 
fax: 316-946-4107; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Learjet Inc. Model 
36A airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 
18, 2016 (81 FR 81704) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report indicating that an aileron cable failed on an airplane during a 
tension check, and a determination that Model 36A airplanes were not 
included in AD 2005-13-36, Amendment 39-14173 (70 FR 38578, July 5, 
2005), which addresses this condition for other Learjet Inc. airplanes. 
The NPRM proposed to require a one-time inspection of the center ball 
of the aileron control cables for a defective swage, and corrective 
actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent severe 
weakening of the aileron cable, and consequent reduced controllability 
of the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed, except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 21 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.........................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour               $0             $85          $1,785
                                      = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 12064]]



                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                         Labor cost                Parts cost           Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Replacement..................  Up to 48 work-hours x $85    Up to $2,020..........  Up to $6,100.
                                      per hour = up to $4,080.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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),
    (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):

2017-04-15 Learjet Inc.: Amendment 39-18810; Docket No. FAA-2016-
9388; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-145-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 4, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Learjet Inc. Model 36A airplanes, 
certificated in any category, as identified in Bombardier Alert 
Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated December 23, 2002.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating that an aileron 
cable failed on an airplane during a tension check. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent severe weakening of the aileron cable, and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection

    Within 100 flight hours or 90 days after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, do a detailed inspection of the 
center ball of the aileron control cables for a defective swage, and 
before further flight, replace any damaged or defective cable with a 
new cable, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated December 23, 
2002. For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is an 
intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or assembly 
to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is 
normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at an 
intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as mirrors, 
magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning and 
elaborate procedures may be required.

(h) Parts Installation Limitation

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on 
any airplane an aileron control cable unless it has been inspected 
in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) No Reporting or Parts Return Requirement

    Although Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated 
December 23, 2002, has procedures for submitting a report showing 
compliance and for returning any discrepant parts to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include those requirements.

(j) 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 paragraph (k) 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Donald Ristow, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; 
phone: 316-946-4120; fax: 316-946-4107; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
August 9, 2005 (70 FR 38578, July 5, 2005).

[[Page 12065]]

    (i) Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated 
December 23, 2002.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (4) For Learjet Inc. service information identified in this AD, 
contact Learjet Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, KS 67209-2942; 
telephone 316-946-2000; fax 316-946-2220; email 
[email protected]; Internet http://www.bombardier.com.
    (5) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 425-227-1221.
    (6) You may view this 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 February 15, 2017.
Thomas Groves,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03715 Filed 2-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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