Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Model GV and GV-SP Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30047-30050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4714]



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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2006 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 30047]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22034; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD; 
Amendment 39-14607; AD 2006-11-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Model GV and GV-SP Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Gulfstream Model GV and certain Model GV-SP series airplanes. This AD 
requires a one-time inspection of the left and right aileron and 
elevator actuators to determine the part and serial numbers of each 
actuator, repetitive inspections of suspect actuators to detect broken 
damper shafts, and replacement of any actuator having a broken damper 
shaft. This AD also requires that operators report any broken damper 
shaft they find to the FAA. This AD also requires a terminating action 
for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports of broken 
or cracked damper shafts within the aileron and elevator actuator 
assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent broken damper shafts, 
which could result in locking of an aileron or elevator actuator (hard-
over condition), which would activate the hard-over protection system 
(HOPS), resulting in increased pilot workload and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 29, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of June 29, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications 
Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206, for service 
information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald Avella, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ACE-119A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft 
Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 
450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 703-6066; fax (770) 703-
6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all 
Gulfstream Model GV and certain Model GV-SP series airplanes. That 
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 30, 
2006 (71 FR 16066). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require a one-
time inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator actuators to 
determine the part and serial numbers of each actuator, repetitive 
inspections of suspect actuators to detect broken damper shafts, and 
replacement of any actuator having a broken damper shaft. That 
supplemental NPRM also proposed to require that operators report any 
broken damper shaft they find to the FAA. That supplemental NPRM also 
proposed to mandate the previously optional terminating action.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the 
supplemental NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
in the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 214 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 174 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. 
operators to comply with this AD. Gulfstream has stated that it will 
provide replacement parts at no cost to operators.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Average
             Action               Gulfstream airplane      Work hours       labor rate    Cost per    Fleet cost
                                         model                               per hour     airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection for part/serial        GV and GV-SP series  1.................          $80          $80      $13,920
 number.                           airplanes.
Inspection of actuators, per      GV series airplanes  14 per actuator...           80        1,120  \1\ 194,880
 inspection cycle (if             GV-SP series         4 per actuator....           80          320   \1\ 55,680
 accomplished).                    airplanes.

[[Page 30048]]

 
Terminating replacement.........  GV series airplanes  26 per aileron               80        4,160      723,840
                                                        actuator (2
                                                        actuators per
                                                        airplane).
                                                       52 per elevator              80        8,320    1,447,680
                                                        actuator (2
                                                        actuators per
                                                        airplane).
                                  GV-SP series         32 per aileron               80        5,120      890,880
                                   airplanes.           actuator (2
                                                        actuators per
                                                        airplane).
                                                       52 per elevator              80        8,320   1,447,680
                                                        actuator (2
                                                        actuators per
                                                        airplane).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Per actuator, per inspection cycle.

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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-11-03 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-14607. 
Docket No. FAA-2005-22034; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 29, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Gulfstream Model GV series airplanes, 
and Model GV-SP series airplanes having serial numbers (S/Ns) 5001 
through 5052 inclusive; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of broken or cracked damper 
shafts within the aileron and elevator actuator assemblies. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent broken damper shafts, which could result 
in locking of an aileron or elevator actuator (hard-over condition), 
which would activate the hard-over protection system (HOPS), 
resulting in increased pilot workload and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Service Information References

    (f) The term ``customer bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means 
the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable Gulfstream 
customer bulletins specified in Table 1 of this AD. Although the 
customer bulletins recommend completing and submitting the Service 
Reply Card or reporting compliance with the customer bulletin, those 
actions are not required by this AD.

                               Table 1.--Applicable Gulfstream Customer Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               For--                     For model--               Use--                     Dated--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Initial/repetitive inspections  (i) GV-SP series       Gulfstream G500       August 23, 2004.
 of and corrective actions for       airplanes.             Customer Bulletin 4. August 23, 2004.
 identified subject actuators.      (ii) GV-SP series      Gulfstream G550       August 23, 2004.
                                     airplanes.             Customer Bulletin 4.
                                    (iii) GV series        Gulfstream GV
                                     airplanes.             Customer Bulletin
                                                            123.
(2) Terminating replacement of       (i) GV-SP series      Gulfstream G500       December 8, 2004.
 subject actuators.                  airplanes.             Customer Bulletin 6. December 8, 2004.
                                    (ii) GV-SP series      Gulfstream G550       December 8, 2004.
                                     airplanes.             Customer Bulletin 6.
                                    (iii) GV series        Gulfstream GV
                                     airplanes.             Customer Bulletin
                                                            124.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 30049]]

Inspection To Determine Actuator Part and Serial Numbers

    (g) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Do a one-time inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator 
actuators to determine the part number (P/N) and S/N of each 
actuator, in accordance with the applicable customer bulletin.

No Subject Actuators Installed

    (h) If no actuator with a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1 ``Serial 
Number Effectivity Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin is 
identified during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 
AD, no further action is required by this AD, except as required by 
paragraph (l) of this AD.

Initial and Repetitive Inspections of Subject Actuators

    (i) For any actuator identified during the inspection required 
by paragraph (g) of this AD with a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1 
``Serial Number Effectivity Table'' of the applicable customer 
bulletin, and for actuators for which the P/N or S/N is missing or 
unreadable: Before further flight, do a detailed inspection of the 
identified actuator to detect a broken damper shaft, in accordance 
with the applicable customer bulletin.


    Note 1: 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 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''


    (1) If no damper shaft is found broken: Repeat the inspection 
required by paragraph (i) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 500 flight hours, until the terminating replacement specified 
in paragraph (j) of this AD is accomplished.

Corrective Action for Subject Actuators

    (2) If any damper shaft is found broken: Before further flight, 
do the action specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i), (i)(2)(ii), or (j) 
of this AD, in accordance with the applicable customer bulletin.
    (i) Replace the actuator with a new or serviceable actuator 
having a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1 ``Serial Number Effectivity 
Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin, provided the new or 
serviceable actuator has been inspected in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (i) of this AD. Thereafter, repeat the 
inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD for that actuator at 
intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours, until the terminating 
replacement specified in paragraph (j) of this AD is accomplished.
    (ii) Replace the actuator with a new or serviceable actuator 
having a new P/N listed in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number 
Replacement Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin. This 
replacement terminates the requirements of this paragraph for that 
actuator only.

Terminating Replacement

    (j) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Replace all identified suspect actuators with new or serviceable 
actuators having a new P/N listed in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number 
Replacement Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin. This 
replacement terminates the requirements of this AD, except as 
required by paragraph (l) of this AD.

Reporting Requirement

    (k) Submit a report of any broken damper shafts to the Manager, 
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, One Crown Center, 
1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; fax (770) 
703-6097. The report must be done at the applicable time specified 
in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD. The report must include 
the inspection date, the airplane model and S/N, the actuator 
position (left or right aileron or elevator), and the actuator P/N 
and S/N. Information collection requirements contained in this AD 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
    (1) If the inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD is 
done after the effective date of this AD: Submit a report within 30 
days after the inspection is done.
    (2) If an inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD was 
done before the effective date of this AD: Submit a report within 30 
days after the effective date of this AD.

Parts Installation

    (l) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an aileron or elevator actuator having a P/N and S/N specified in 
the applicable customer bulletin on any airplane, unless the 
actuator has been inspected according to paragraph (i) of this AD.

Special Flight Permit Prohibited

    (m) Special flight permits (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) are not 
allowed if any broken damper shaft is found during any inspection 
required by paragraph (i) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (n)(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (o) You must use the applicable customer bulletins specified in 
Table 2 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of these documents 
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206, for a copy of this service 
information. You may review copies at the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

              Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Customer bulletin                          Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulfstream G500 Customer Bulletin 4.  August 23, 2004.
Gulfstream G500 Customer Bulletin 6.  December 8, 2004.
Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin 4.  August 23, 2004.
Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin 6.  December 8, 2004.
Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 123.  August 23, 2004.
Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 124.  December 8, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 30050]]

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 15, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4714 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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