Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78963-78965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32300]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NM-114-AD; Amendment 39-12902; AD 2002-20-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX 
and 1125 Westwind Astra 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 all Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 
Westwind Astra series airplanes, that requires revising the Airplane 
Flight Manual to advise the flightcrew to don oxygen masks as a first 
and immediate step following a cabin altitude alert. This action is 
necessary to prevent incapacitation of the flightcrew due to lack of 
oxygen. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe 
condition.

DATES: Effective January 31, 2003.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail 
Station D25, Savannah, Georgia 31402. 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 Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA,

[[Page 78964]]

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2141; fax (425) 227-1149.

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 all Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model 
Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes was published in the 
Federal Register on July 9, 2002 (67 FR 45410). That action proposed to 
require revising the Airplane Flight Manual to advise the flightcrew to 
don oxygen masks as a first and immediate step following a cabin 
altitude alert.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 90 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per 
airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $5,400 or $60 per airplane.
    The 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 cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2002-20-06 Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Formerly Israel Aircraft 
Industries, Ltd.): Amendment 39-12902. Docket 2002-NM-114-AD.

    Applicability: All Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 
1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent incapacitation of the flightcrew due to lack of 
oxygen, accomplish the following:

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (a) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Emergency Procedures section of the FAA-approved AFM to include 
the following information; and operate the airplane in accordance 
with those procedures.
    (1) For Model Astra SPX series airplanes: Include page II-2 of 
Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX AFM, Revision No. 17, dated 
July 25, 2000.
    (2) For Model 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes: Include 
Temporary Revision (TR) No. 12 of the Israel Aircraft Industries 
Astra AFM, dated October 18, 2001. This may be accomplished by 
inserting a copy of TR No. 12 into the AFM. When the TR has been 
incorporated into the general revisions of the AFM, the general 
revisions may be inserted into the AFM, provided the information 
contained in the general revisions is identical to that specified in 
TR No. 12.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (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, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Operations Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 1: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Sec. Sec.  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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (d) The actions required by this AD shall be accomplished in 
accordance with page II-2 of the Israel Aircraft Industries Astra 
SPX Airplane Flight Manual, Revision 17, dated July 25, 2000; and 
Temporary Revision 12, dated October 18, 2001, to the Israel 
Aircraft Industries Astra Airplane Flight Manual; as applicable. 
Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX Airplane Flight Manual, 
Revision No. 17, including page II-2, contains the following list of 
effective pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Revision
             Page No.               level shown     Date shown on page
                                      on page
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Log of Effective Pages--Page xvii           17   July 25, 2000
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[[Page 78965]]

    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 Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station D25, Savannah, Georgia 
31402. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Israeli 
airworthiness directive 21-00-11-18, dated November 27, 2000.

Effective Date

    (e) This amendment becomes effective on January 31, 2003.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 16, 2002.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-32300 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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