Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60328-60330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24324]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0690; Product Identifier 2018-CE-022-AD; Amendment 
39-19761; AD 2019-20-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model G-IV and 
Model GIV-X airplanes. This AD was prompted by a revision to the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the aircraft maintenance 
manual (AMM) based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing and updated 
analysis. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection 
program to incorporate updated inspection requirements and life limits 
that address fatigue cracking of principal structural elements. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 13, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 13, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: 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: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/contact/support/#form. 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-2018-0690.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0690; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald ``Ron'' Wissing, Airframe 
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

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain 
Gulfstream Model G-IV and Model GIV-X airplanes. The SNPRM published in 
the Federal Register on April 2, 2019 (84 FR 12530). The FAA preceded 
the SNPRM with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that published in 
the Federal Register on August 2, 2018 (83 FR 37771). The NPRM proposed 
to require revising the ALS in the AMM to incorporate new inspections 
and life limits contained in Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, 
Summary of Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness 
Limitations, Revision B, dated March 12, 2018. The NPRM was prompted by 
a revision to the ALS of the AMM based on fatigue and damage tolerance 
testing and updated analysis.
    After the FAA issued the NPRM, Gulfstream updated the life limits 
in the ALS and issued Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, Summary of 
Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness Limitations, 
Revision D, dated August 20, 2018. Revision D differs from Revision B 
in that the part number (P/N) for the rudder for Model GIV airplanes 
has been corrected to reflect P/N 1159CS30004, and new life limits for 
fuselage cockpit side post P/N 1159BM50025-5 and P/N 1159BM50025-6 have 
been added per Revision C. The SNPRM proposed to require the later 
revision of the service information. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the SNPRM 
or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, Summary of 
Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness Limitations, 
Revision D, dated August 20, 2018. This document contains new and 
revised inspections and life limits pertaining to fatigue cracking of 
principal structural elements. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 711 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 60329]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                     Labor cost            Parts cost           product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise ALS and AMM................  20 work-hours x $85   Not applicable......          $1,700       $1,208,700
                                     per hour = $1,700.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The extent of damage found during the inspection may vary from 
airplane to airplane. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that might need repairs or the cost of such repairs for each 
airplane.

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.
    The FAA is 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, gliders, 
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and 
associated appliances 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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):

2019-20-08 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-19761; 
Docket No. FAA-2018-0690; Product Identifier 2018-CE-022-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 13, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-IV 
airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 1000 through 
1535; and Model GIV-X airplanes, certificated in any category, 
serial numbers 4001 through 4363.
    Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: Model G-IV airplanes are 
also referred to by the marketing designations G300 and G400. Model 
GIV-X airplanes are also referred to by the marketing designations 
G350 and G450.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls; 32, Landing Gear; 52, 
Doors; 53, Fuselage; 55, Stabilizers; 57, Wings; 71, Power Plant-
General; and 78, Engine Exhaust.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a revision to the airworthiness 
limitations section (ALS) of the Model G-IV and Model GIV-X aircraft 
maintenance manuals based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing 
and updated analysis. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and 
correct fatigue cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). 
This unsafe condition, if unaddressed, could result in reduced 
structural integrity of a PSE or critical component and lead to loss 
of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Airplane Maintenance Manual Revisions

    Within 12 months after December 13, 2019 (the effective date of 
this AD), revise the ALS of your maintenance or inspection program 
(e.g., maintenance manual) to incorporate the airworthiness 
limitations specified in Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, 
Summary of Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness 
Limitations, Revision D, dated August 20, 2018, as applicable to 
your model and serial number airplane.

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

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

(i) 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 District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j)(1) 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Ronald ``Ron'' 
Wissing, Airframe Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, Georgia

[[Page 60330]]

30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

(k) 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.
    (i) Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, Summary of Changes to 
the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 
D, dated August 20, 2018.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 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: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/contact/support/#form.
    (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, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 29, 2019.
Pat Mullen,
Aircraft Certification Service Manager, Small Airplane Standards 
Branch, AIR-690.
[FR Doc. 2019-24324 Filed 11-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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