[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 102 (Friday, May 29, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25682-25684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12522]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0495; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-049-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Model 60 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Learjet Model 60 airplanes. This proposed AD would require 
revising the Tire-Servicing section of the airplane maintenance manual 
and revising the Tires Limitation section of the airplane flight manual 
to incorporate revised procedures for servicing tires and checking for 
proper tire inflation. This proposed AD results from a report of the 
main landing gear tires blowing out during a takeoff roll. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent tire failure, which could result in 
failures of the braking and thrust reverser systems. In a critical 
phase of operation such as takeoff, loss of airplane control may 
result.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Learjet, Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, Kansas 67209-2942; telephone 
316-946-2000; fax 316-946-2220; e-mail [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 or 
425-227-1152.

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Ristow, 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; telephone (316) 946-4120; fax 
(316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0495; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-049-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this

[[Page 25683]]

proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received a report of all four of the main landing gear tires 
blowing out during a takeoff roll of a Learjet Model 60 airplane. The 
airplane overran the end of the runway, ultimately stopping when it 
struck an embankment, and was destroyed by fire. Investigation of the 
tire fragments indicates that, in all four tires, there was evidence of 
internal heat damage consistent with under-inflation, over-loading, or 
a combination of both; damage to a tire under these conditions is 
cumulative. Tires that have been rolled or taxied at lower-than-
specified tire pressure settings may fail. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent tire failure, which could result in failures of the braking and 
thrust reverser systems. In a critical phase of operation such as 
takeoff, loss of airplane control may result.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Learjet 60 Temporary Revision (TR) 12-16, dated 
March 18, 2009, to the Learjet 60 Maintenance Manual; and Learjet 60 
Temporary Flight Manual Change (TFMC) 2009-03, dated March 9, 2009, to 
the Learjet 60 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and Learjet 60XR AFM. 
Learjet 60 TR 12-16 describes the procedures to use when checking for 
and maintaining proper tire inflation. Learjet 60 TFMC 2009-03 
describes procedures to use when checking for proper tire inflation 
within 96 hours (4 days) prior to takeoff.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the(se) same type 
design(s). This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions 
specified in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 240 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour 
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is 
$80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this 
proposed AD to the U.S. operators to be $19,200, or $80 per product.

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

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866,
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Learjet: Docket No. FAA-2009-0495; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-
049-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by July 13, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Learjet Model 60 airplanes, certificated 
in any category, serial numbers 60-002 through 60-369 inclusive.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32: Landing 
gear.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from a report of the main landing gear tires 
blowing out during a takeoff roll. The Federal Aviation 
Administration is issuing this AD to prevent tire failure, which 
could result in failures of the braking and thrust reverser systems. 
In a critical phase of operation such as takeoff, loss of airplane 
control may result.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Revise the Maintenance Manual (MM)

    (g) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Tire-Servicing section of Learjet 60 MM to include the 
information in Learjet 60 Temporary Revision (TR) 12-16, dated March 
18, 2009.

    Note 1:  The actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD may be 
done by inserting a copy of Learjet 60 TR 12-16, dated March 18, 
2009, into the Learjet 60 MM. When Learjet 60 TR 12-16 has been 
included in general revisions of the Learjet 60 MM, the general 
revisions may be inserted in the MM, provided the relevant 
information in the general revision is identical to that in the TR.

Revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (h) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Tires Limitations section of the Learjet 60 AFM or Learjet 60XR 
AFM, as applicable, to include the information in the Learjet 60 
Temporary Flight Manual Change (TFMC) 2009-03, dated March 9, 2009. 
Thereafter, operate the airplane according to the limitations and 
procedures in the TFMC.

    Note 2:  The actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD may be 
done by inserting a copy of Learjet 60 TFMC 2009-03, dated March 9, 
2009, into the Learjet 60 or 60XR

[[Page 25684]]

AFM, as applicable. When Learjet 60 TFMC 2009-03 has been included 
in general revisions of the applicable AFM, the general revisions 
may be inserted in the applicable AFM, provided the relevant 
information in the general revision is identical to that in Learjet 
60 TFMC 2009-03.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification 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: Don 
Ristow, 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; telephone (316) 946-4120; fax (316) 946-4107.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 18, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12522 Filed 5-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P