Document ID: FAA-2016-9388-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Learjet Inc. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2016-11-18T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81704-81707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27532]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9388; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-145-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Learjet Inc. 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 Inc. Model 36A airplanes. This proposed 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 proposed AD would require a one-time 
inspection of the center ball of the aileron control cables for a 
defective

[[Page 81705]]

swage, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Learjet, 
Inc., One Learjet Way, Wichita, KS 67209-2942; telephone 316-946-2000; 
fax 316-946-2220; email ac.ict@aero.bombardier.com; 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.

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

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, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-
4120; fax: 316-946-4107; email: donald.ristow@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-9388; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-145-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 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 indicating that an aileron cable failed on a 
Learjet Inc. Model 35A (C-21A) airplane when the cable underwent a 
tension check while being installed. Further investigation showed that 
an over-sized ball was swaged onto the cable during manufacture. 
Swaging an over-sized ball onto a cable allows excess material into the 
swaging die, which causes the ball to over-swage and then sever the 
cable strands. This condition, if not corrected, could result in severe 
weakening of the aileron cable, and consequent reduced controllability 
of the airplane.
    The subject area on Learjet Inc. Model 36A airplanes is identical 
to that on the affected Model 35A (C-21A) airplane. Therefore, Model 
36A airplanes may be subject to the same unsafe condition.
    We previously issued AD 2005-13-36, Amendment 39-14173 (70 FR 
38578, July 5, 2005) (``AD 2005-13-36''), for Learjet Inc. Model 23, 
24, 24A, 24B, 24B-A, 24C, 24D, 24D-A, 24E, 24F, 24F-A, 25, 25A, 25B, 
25C, 25D, 25F, 28, 29, 31, 31A, 35, 35A (C-21A), and 36 airplanes. 
Model 36A airplanes were inadvertently omitted from the applicability 
of that AD. The applicability of AD 2005-13-36 referred to Bombardier 
Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated December 23, 2002, for Model 
35, 35A (C-21A), and 36 airplanes. However, Model 36A airplanes are 
also identified in that service information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated 
December 23, 2002. The service information describes procedures for a 
one-time inspection of the center ball of the aileron control cables 
for a defective swage, and replacement of defective cables. This 
service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as described in 
``Differences between this Proposed AD and the Service Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A35/36-27-42, dated December 23, 
2002, recommends that operators accomplish the actions within 10 flight 
hours after receipt. This proposed AD would require that operators 
accomplish the actions within 100 flight hours, or 90 days after the 
effective date of the AD, whichever occurs first. We find that the 
proposed compliance time addresses the unsafe condition soon enough to 
maintain an adequate level of safety for the affected fleet. In 
developing an appropriate compliance time for this proposed AD we 
considered the degree of urgency associated with addressing the unsafe 
condition, and the maximum interval of time allowable for all affected 
airplanes to continue to operate without compromising safety.

Costs of Compliance

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

[[Page 81706]]

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

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

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Action                      Labor cost                Parts cost              Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Replacement................  \1\ Up to 48 work-hours  \1\ Up to $2,020.........  \1\ Up to $6,100.
                                    x $85 per hour = up to
                                    $4,080.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These costs assume replacement of all 5 cables.

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
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

    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),
    (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.

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

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):

Learjet Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9388; Directorate Identifier 2016-
NM-145-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 3, 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.

[[Page 81707]]

(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)(1) 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

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Donald Ristow, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, 
Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Dwight D. Eisenhower 
National Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4120; fax: 
316-946-4107; email: donald.ristow@faa.gov.
    (2) For 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 ac.ict@aero.bombardier.com; 
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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 7, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27532 Filed 11-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P