[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78520-78521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30999]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0651; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-041-AD; 
Amendment 39-16879; AD 2011-25-03]
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 all 
Learjet Inc. Model 45 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of 
the potential for fatigue cracking of the end cap of the main landing 
gear (MLG) prior to the published life limitation. This AD requires 
revising the maintenance program to incorporate life limits for the MLG 
actuator end cap. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of 
the end cap of the MLG, which could result in the failure of the MLG 
actuator upon landing, and failure of the MLG to extend or retract 
during flight.

DATES: This AD is effective January 23, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 23, 
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 Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Chapman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Services Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4152; fax: (316) 946-4129; 
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 July 8, 2011 (76 FR 
40291). That NPRM proposed to require revising the maintenance program 
to incorporate life limits for the MLG actuator end cap.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (76 FR 40291, July 8, 
2011) 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 the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 351 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise maintenance plan..........  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0  $ 85 per revision..         $29,835
                                    hour = $85 per revision.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 78521]]

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):
2011-25-03 Learjet Inc.: Amendment 39-16879; Docket No. FAA-2011-
0651; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-041-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 23, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Learjet Inc. Model 45 airplanes, certificated 
in any category; all serial numbers.

    Note 1:  This AD requires revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new actions (e.g. inspections). 
Compliance with these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For 
airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired 
in the areas addressed by these actions, the operator may not be 
able to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according 
to paragraph (i) of this AD. The request should include a 
description of changes to the required actions that will ensure the 
continued operational safety of the airplane.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of the potential for fatigue 
cracking of the end cap of the main landing gear (MLG) prior to the 
published life limitation. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue 
cracking of the end cap of the MLG, which could result in the 
failure of the MLG actuator upon landing, and failure of the MLG to 
extend or retract during flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Maintenance Program Revision

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
maintenance program by incorporating inspection reference number 
(IRN) T3220105 (Main Landing Gear Actuator End Cap (part number (P/
N) 200-0303)), as specified in Learjet 40 Temporary Revision 4-23, 
dated January 24, 2011, to Learjet 40 Maintenance Manual; or Learjet 
45 Temporary Revision 4-34, dated January 24, 2011, to Learjet 45 
Maintenance Manual; as applicable. The initial compliance time for 
the replacement specified in IRN T3220105 is prior to the 
accumulation of 2,387 total flight cycles on the end cap (P/N 200-
0303), or within 25 flight cycles after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs later.

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., replacements) or intervals, 
may be used, unless the actions or intervals are approved as an 
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.

(i) 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 FR 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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically 
reference this AD.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Paul Chapman, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Services Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4152; 
fax: (316) 946-4129; email: [email protected].

(k) 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 on the date specified:
    (i) Learjet 40 Temporary Revision 4-23, dated January 24, 2011, 
to Learjet 40 Maintenance Manual, approved for IBR January 23, 2012.
    (ii) Learjet 45 Temporary Revision 4-34, dated January 24, 2011, 
to Learjet 45 Maintenance Manual, approved for IBR January 23, 2012.
    (2) For Learjet 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 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.
    (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 an NARA facility, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 23, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30999 Filed 12-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P