Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model L-1011-385 Series Airplanes

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]

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