[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 223 (Monday, November 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27850]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 21, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-32-AD; Amendment 39-9069; AD 94-23-07]
Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model L-1011-385 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain Lockheed Model L-1011-385 series airplanes, that
requires various modifications and inspections of the flight controls,
doors, and horizontal stabilizers. This amendment is prompted by a
recommendation by the Systems Review Task Force (SRTF) for
accomplishment of certain modifications and inspections that will
enhance the controllability of these airplanes in the unlikely event of
flight control malfunction or failure. The actions specified by this AD
are intended to ensure airplane survivability in the event of damage to
fully powered flight control systems.
DATES: Effective December 21, 1994.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of December 21, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be
obtained from Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Support Company, Field
Support Department, Dept. 693, Zone 0755, 2251 Lake Park Drive, Smyrna,
Georgia 30080. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Suite
210C, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia; or at the Office of the
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,
DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Peters, Aerospace Engineer, Flight Test Branch, ACE-160A, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,
Suite 210C, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone
(404) 991-3915; fax (404) 991-3606.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Lockheed Model L-1011-385
series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 9, 1994
(59 FR 29745). That action proposed to require various modifications
and inspections of the flight controls, doors, and horizontal
stabilizers.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comments received.
One commenter supports the proposed rule.
One commenter suggests that reworking and changing the part number
of the cross-tie interlock bungees on the servo of the stabilizer, as
described in Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-280, should be considered
terminating action for reworking the bungee, as described in Lockheed
Service Bulletin 093-27-279. The FAA recognizes that accomplishment of
the actions in Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-280 is an acceptable
means of compliance for accomplishment of the inspection and
modification described in Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-279. The FAA
finds that no change to the final rule is necessary, since this
provision was included in NOTE 2 under paragraph (a) of the proposed
rule.
One commenter requests that the compliance time of four years, as
specified in paragraph(a) of the proposal, be revised to coincide with
parts availability. The commenter suggests a compliance time of four
years after all required parts kits are available or five years after
the effective date of the AD. The FAA does not concur. In developing an
appropriate compliance time for this action, the FAA considered not
only the degree of urgency associated with addressing the subject
unsafe condition, but the availability of required parts and the
practical aspect of installing the required modifications within a
maximum interval of time allowable for all affected airplanes to
continue to operate without compromising safety. The FAA is not aware
of any parts availability problem at this time and, therefore, assumes
that an ample number of required parts will be available for
modification of the U.S. fleet within the proposed compliance period.
However, under the provisions of paragraph (b) of the final rule, the
FAA may approve requests for adjustments to the compliance time if data
are submitted to substantiate that such an adjustment would provide an
acceptable level of safety.
The same commenter requests that the compliance time for
accomplishment of Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-55-030 be extended.
This commenter performs work in the area addressed by the service
bulletin at heavy maintenance checks, which occur at intervals of
27,000 flight hours. The commenter suggests that even a five-year
compliance time would be inadequate for accomplishment of this service
bulletin. However, the commenter does not request a specific compliance
time. The FAA does not concur with the commenter's request to extend
the compliance time. The actions described in Lockheed Service Bulletin
093-55-030 should take only five work hours to complete. The FAA has
determined that these actions can be accomplished during regularly
scheduled maintenance visits (other than heavy maintenance checks) or
inspection activities without having a significant adverse effect on
airplane scheduling. However, paragraph (b) of the final rule does
provide affected operators the opportunity to apply for an adjustment
of the compliance time if data are presented to justify such an
adjustment.
After careful review of the available data, including the comments
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public
interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.
There are approximately 236 Model L-1011-385 series airplanes of
the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 117
airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will
take approximately 87 work hours per airplane to accomplish the
required actions, and that the average labor rate is $55 per work hour.
Required parts for certain modifications will be supplied by the
manufacturer at no cost to operators. Required parts for certain other
modifications will be minimal in cost. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$559,845 or $4,785 per airplane.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
The number of required work hours, as indicated above, is presented
as if the accomplishment of the actions required by this AD were to be
conducted as ``stand alone'' actions. However, the 4-year compliance
time specified in paragraph (a) of this AD should allow ample time for
the modifications and inspections to be accomplished coincidentally
with scheduled major airplane inspection and maintenance activities,
thereby minimizing the costs associated with special airplane
scheduling.
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment.
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
94-23-07 Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company: Amendment 39-9069.
Docket 94-NM-32-AD.
Applicability: Model L-1011-385 series airplanes; as listed in
Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-301 [``Flight Controls--
Modifications and Inspections--Collector Service Bulletin'' (CSB)],
dated June 9, 1992; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To ensure airplane survivability in the event of damage to fully
powered flight control systems, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 4 years after the effective date of this AD,
accomplish modifications and inspections of the flight controls,
modification of the doors, and modification of the horizontal
stabilizers, in accordance with Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-301
[``Flight Controls--Modifications and Inspections--Collector Service
Bulletin'' (CSB)], dated June 9, 1992 (hereinafter referred to as
the CSB). This paragraph requires accomplishment of certain Lockheed
service bulletins identified in the CSB, as listed below.
Modifications or inspections accomplished previously in accordance
with earlier revisions of the service bulletins listed below are
acceptable for compliance with this AD.
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Revision
Service bulletin No. level Date of issuance
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093-27-A102 (Alert Service Original March 13, 1974.
Bulletin).
093-27-178.................... Original April 30, 1979.
093-27-200.................... 2 September 28, 1982.
093-27-279.................... 1 February 1, 1984.
093-27-289.................... Original December 3, 1984.
093-27-292.................... 3 March 28, 1991.
093-52-061.................... 1 November 1, 1974.
093-55-030.................... 1 March 20, 1991.
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Note 1: Paragraph (a) of this AD does not require accomplishment
of any of the service bulletins listed in the CSB other than those
identified above.
Note 2: Accomplishment of the actions described in Lockheed
Service Bulletin 093-27-280, dated December 16, 1983, is considered
an acceptable means of compliance for accomplishment of the
inspection and modification described in Lockheed Service Bulletin
093-27-279, Revision 1, dated February 1, 1984.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Manager, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Small Airplane Directorate.
Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send
it to the Manager, Atlanta, ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) The modifications and inspections shall be done in
accordance with Lockheed Service Bulletin 093-27-301 [``Flight
Controls--Modifications and Inspections--Collector Service
Bulletin'' (CSB)], dated June 9, 1992. This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be
obtained from Lockheed Western Export Company (LWEC), Field Support
Department, Dept. 693, Zone 0755, 2251 Lake Park Drive, Smyrna,
Georgia 30080. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington; or
at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, Suite 210C, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Atlanta,
Georgia; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on December 21, 1994.
Issued at Renton, Washington, on November 4, 1994.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-27850 Filed 11-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
