FAA Grounds All Learjet Model 45s

[JimNtexas]

Forgive me if there is already a thread on this, if so I missed it.

By Don Phillips
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 12, 2003; 4:50 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the immediate grounding of all 222 Learjet Model 45 business jets after discovering that a part in the tail section can fail abruptly, possibly leading to a loss of control of the airplane.

The grounding is a blow to Learjet owner Bombardier of Montreal, whose stock was already undergoing a pounding in recent months. It was also a blow to Bombardier subsidiary Flexjets, one of three major competitors to Warren Buffett's business jet fractional ownership company, Netjets. Flexjets has 30 Learjet-45s out of a fleet of 105 aircraft while Netjets has none in its 396-jet fleet.

An FAA airworthiness directive, to be printed in tomorrow's Federal Register, said the agency has found that a screw-and-nut assembly in the control mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer, which helps control up and down movements, can fracture suddenly and can cause the plane to dive out of control.

The agency has been investigating the assembly since March when a Learjet-45 experienced a severe vibration and sudden nose-down pitch. ....

Full article : http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A50349-2003Aug12?language=printer

Any first hand information on this grounding?

 

[WrightAvia]

gee...you think this is going to be a blow to the new Lear 40 also?

 

[jdru25]

Thats a d@mn shame! I always thought the Lear 45 was one of the neatest looking biz jets out there. At least they found the fault early and no one had to die because of it.

 

[CoopDog]

Another problem?

Looks like there's more problems according to this article below:




Aug 13, 2003

A potentially fatal flaw in the main landing gear of Learjet 45 business jets has forced the US Federal Aviation Administration to ground the planes while urgent repairs are carried out.

In a new airworthiness directive issued today, the FAA said that some of the shearpins installed on the aircraft could fail and send it out of control on take-off or landing.

The agency has called for the immediate replacement of the faulty parts with improved versions.

The Learjet 45 is built by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier and there are more than 200 of the planes in service.

A summary of the FAA directive said: "This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive that is applicable to certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes. This action incorporates a reduced life-limit replacement interval for certain shear pins in the trunnion assemblies of the main landing gears (MLG)... and requires replacement of those certain shear pins with new, improved shear pins.

"This action is necessary to prevent failure of the shear pins in the trunnion assemblies of the MLGs, which could result in the collapse of a MLG, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane during takeoff or landing."

 

[WrightAvia]

At least the wings aren't falling off.

 

[logolight]

They should re-produce the Lear 23, 24, and 25 models again.

 

[WrightAvia]

how about if they just produce them again...as opposed to reproducing them.

 

[generaltso]

At least the wings aren't falling off.

By Don Phillips
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 13, 2003; 5:02 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the immediate grounding of all 222 Learjet Model 45 business jets after discovering that there wings could fall off.

A summary of the FAA directive said: "This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive that is applicable to certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes. Due to the possibility of the aircrafts wings falling off, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane during takeoff or landing"

The agency has been investigating the wings since March when a Learjet-45 experienced its wings falling off while sitting on the ramp.

 

[V1Cutt]

ROFL

I HATE IT when that happens!