Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66801-66804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23091]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9116; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-130-AD; 
Amendment 39-18672; AD 2016-20-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159, G-1159A, G-1159B, and G-
IV airplanes. This AD requires revision of the maintenance or 
inspection program to establish the life limit of all elevator 
assemblies and skins on affected airplanes. This AD was

[[Page 66802]]

prompted by the need to establish life limits for certain elevator 
assemblies and skins. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
elevator assembly and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective October 14, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 23, 
2016 (81 FR 61987, September 8, 2016).
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 14, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; fax 912-965-
3520; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. You may view this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also 
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9116.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9116; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William O. Herderich, Aerospace 
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337; phone: 404-474-5547; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We have determined that it is necessary to establish life limits 
for certain elevator assemblies and skins. Certain elevator assemblies 
and skins were reidentified with numbers not listed in the life limits 
section of the airplane maintenance manual. As a result, the life limit 
requirement was inadvertently removed. An airplane with an elevator 
assembly or skin that has exceeded its life limit could experience 
elevator failure and loss of control. We are issuing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed the following temporary revisions (TRs):
    <bullet> Gulfstream II Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 15, 
2016.
    <bullet> Gulfstream IIB Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 15, 
2016.
    <bullet> Gulfstream III Maintenance Manual TR 5-2, dated April 15, 
2016.
    <bullet> Gulfstream IV Maintenance Manual TR 5-7, dated April 29, 
2016.
    This service information establishes life limits for elevator 
assemblies. This service information is reasonably available because 
the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to establish life limits for certain elevator assemblies 
and skins.
    Due to a delay in defining and developing the corrective action 
that will address the identified unsafe condition, some elevator 
assemblies may exceed their life limits soon. Because we have 
determined that exceeding those life limits can result in loss of 
airplane control, we have determined that it is necessary to issue this 
AD without notice and opportunity for prior public comment. We consider 
30 days the maximum amount of time for operators to revise their 
maintenance or inspection programs without compromising safety.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
failure of the elevator could result in loss of control of the 
airplane. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are impracticable and that good cause exists for making 
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2016-9116 and 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-130-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 596 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 66803]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance/inspection program          1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $50,660
 revision.                               hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2016-20-06 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-18672; 
Docket No. FAA-2016-9116; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-130-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 14, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-
1159, G-1159A, G-1159B, and G-IV airplanes, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the need to establish life limits for 
elevator assemblies and skins. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the elevator assembly and consequent loss of control of 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Revision of Maintenance/Inspection Program

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the 
life limits identified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(4) of this 
AD, as applicable. The initial compliance time to replace the 
elevator assembly and skins, as specified in the temporary revision 
(TR), is as specified in the applicable TR, or within 30 days after 
the effective date of this AD, or within 10 flight cycles after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs latest.
    (1) For Model G-1159 airplanes: Life limits for elevator skin 
part numbers 1159CS20002 and 1159SB30209 as specified in Gulfstream 
II Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 15, 2016.
    (2) For Model G-1159B airplanes: Life limits for elevator part 
number 1159SB30209 as specified in Gulfstream IIB Maintenance Manual 
TR 5-3, dated April 15, 2016.
    (3) For Model G-1159A airplanes: Life limit for elevator part 
number 1159SB30209 as specified in Gulfstream III Maintenance Manual 
TR 5-2, dated April 15, 2016.
    (4) For Model G-IV airplanes: Life limit for elevator part 
number 1159SB40518 as specified in Gulfstream IV Maintenance Manual 
TR 5-7, dated April 29, 2016.

(h) No Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., 
inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or 
intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) 
in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this 
AD.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane, for one flight only, 
to a location where the elevator assembly can be replaced, as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact William O. 
Herderich, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, 
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: 404-474-5547; fax: 404-474-5606; 
email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

[[Page 66804]]

    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
September 23, 2016 (81 FR 61987, September 8, 2016).
    (i) Gulfstream II Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 15, 
2016.
    (ii) Gulfstream IIB Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 15, 
2016.
    (iii) Gulfstream III Maintenance Manual TR 5-2, dated April 15, 
2016.
    (iv) Gulfstream IV Maintenance Manual TR 5-7, dated April 29, 
2016.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; fax 912-
965-3520; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm.
    (5) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221.
    (6) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 15, 2016.
Suzanne Masterson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23091 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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