Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60505-60507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27441]



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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 60505]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; Product Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD; Amendment 
39-19136; AD 2017-26-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-1159A (GIII), G-IV, and GIV-X 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks 
were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design 
minimum. This AD requires replacing any defective flap track. We are 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 25, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of January 25, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, 
Georgia 31404-2206; telephone: (800) 810-4853; fax: (912) 965-3520; 
email: [email protected]; internet: http://www.gulfstream.com/product-support/technical-publications/pubs/index.htm. You may view 
this service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is 
also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0910.

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-2017-
0910; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office 
(phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Wissing, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Models G-1159A (GIII), G-IV, and 
GIV-X airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
September 22, 2017 (82 FR 44359). The NPRM was prompted by a report 
from Gulfstream that, during maintenance while replacing flap tracks on 
one of the affected airplanes, it was discovered that certain flap 
tracks were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than 
design minimum and do not meet design load margins. The NPRM proposed 
to require replacing any defective flap track. We are issuing this AD 
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this final rule. The following presents the comment received on the 
NPRM and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request To Change the Effective Date

    Gulfstream requested that the effective date be set in-line with 
the service information incorporated by referenced in the proposed AD.
    Gulfstream stated that the compliance time specified in Gulfstream 
III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream G450 Customer Bulletin 
Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 240, all dated 
June 28, 2017, which are the incorporated by reference documents listed 
in the proposed AD, is 12 months from the release date of the service 
information.
    Gulfstream stated that if the AD becomes effective before January 
18, 2018, the compliance time will be less than that allowed in the 
service information.
    We do not agree that the possibility of this AD becoming effective 
before January 18, 2018, will result in a reduced compliance time than 
that allowed in the related service information. We infer that the 
commenter thinks a reduced compliance time would cause an undue burden 
on the owners/operators of the affected airplanes. This AD will not be 
effective until 35 days after publication in the Federal Register; 
therefore, we do not believe there will be any significant difference 
in the allowable compliance time for operators. We have not changed 
this AD based on this comment.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream 
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin 
Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017. The applicable model service 
information describes procedures for replacing any discrepant flap 
track C with an airworthy part. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have

[[Page 60506]]

access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 6 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

 
                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost         Parts cost        Cost per product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace flap track C...........  99 work-hours x    $10,644 per flap   $19,059 per flap track  $114,354 per flap
                                  $85 per hour =     track C.           C. There may be a       track C.
                                  $8,415 per flap                       flap track C on the
                                  track C.                              left-side and the
                                                                        right-side of the
                                                                        airplane, for a total
                                                                        of 2 per airplane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic 
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and 
Innovation Division.

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):

2017-26-05 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-19136; 
Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; Product Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 25, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-
1159A (GIII), serial number (S/N) 460; Model G-IV, S/Ns 1129, 1151, 
1167, 1175, 1214, and 1380; and Model GIV-X (G450), S/Ns 4118 and 
4227 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks were 
manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design 
minimum. We are issuing this AD to prevent deformation or failure of 
a flap track that could cause flap actuator failure, ``B track'' 
roller overload, flap twisting/failure, or asymmetrical flap track 
failure. This failure could result in an unrecoverable roll.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replace Flap Track C

    Within the next 6 months after January 25, 2018 (the effective 
date of this AD), replace the flap track C on the left side, part 
number (P/N) 1159WM20052-105, and/or the flap track C on the right 
side, P/N 1159WM20052-106, with an airworthy part. Accomplish the 
replacements following Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, 
Gulfstream G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, or Gulfstream IV 
Customer Bulletin Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017, as 
applicable.

(h) Reporting Requirement

    Although Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream 
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer 
Bulletin Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017, specify to submit 
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require 
that action.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits under 14 CFR 39.23 are allowed with the 
following limitation: Do not extend 39 degrees (FULL) flaps until 
airspeed is at or below 170 knots.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, 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

[[Page 60507]]

District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to 
the manager of the ACO Branch, 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.
    (3) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraph (g) of 
this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with this AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Ron Wissing, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, dated June 28, 
2017.
    (ii) Gulfstream G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, dated June 
28, 2017.
    (iii) Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 240, dated June 28, 
2017.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 
31402-2206; telephone: (800) 810-4853; fax: (912) 965-3520; email: 
[email protected]; internet: www.gulfstream.com/product-support/technical-publications/pubs/index.htm.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Policy and 
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.
    (5) 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 Kansas City, Missouri, on December 13, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27441 Filed 12-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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