[Federal Register: May 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 102)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25682-25684]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my09-19]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ac.ict@aero.bombardier.com;
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