Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25096-25098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09170]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-5404; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00424-T; 
Amendment 39-23325; AD 2026-09-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP 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 LP (GALP) Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. 
This AD was prompted by reports of the accumulation of water in 
electrical connectors located in the aft fuselage directly below the 
empennage, resulting in empennage flight control related crew alerting 
system (CAS) messages. This AD requires retrofitting the flight 
controls empennage electrical harness. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 12, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 12, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5404; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

[[Page 25097]]

    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) material 
identified in this AD, contact CAAI, P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, 
Airport City, 70100, Israel; telephone 972-3-9774665; fax 972-3-
9774592; email [email protected]. You may find this material on the CAAI 
website at www.gov.il/en/pages/israeli-airworthiness-directives.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5404.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Bolden, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
telephone 404-474-5592; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GALP Model 
Gulfstream G280 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on January 7, 2026 (91 FR 457). The NPRM was prompted by AD 
ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1, dated August 28, 2025 (CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-
03-06 R1) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by CAAI, which is the 
aviation authority for Israel. The MCAI states that several reports of 
empennage flight control related CAS messages have been attributed to 
the accumulation of water in electrical connectors located in the aft 
fuselage directly below the empennage. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could, in combination with various specific failures or 
scenarios, result in loss of controllability of the airplane.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require retrofitting the flight 
controls empennage electrical harness. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5404.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant 
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1 specifies procedures for 
retrofitting the flight controls empennage electrical harness by 
replacing the backshells of electrical connectors at the vertical tail 
compartment.
    This material 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 140 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Labor cost                        Parts cost     Cost per product    Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80 work-hours x $85 per hour = $6,800...............       $3,200              $10,000               $1,400,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of 
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact 
on affected operators.

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.

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.

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.

[[Page 25098]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2026-09-04 Gulfstream Aerospace LP: Amendment 39-23325; Docket No. 
FAA-2025-5404; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00424-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 12, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Civil 
Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1, dated 
August 28, 2025 (CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1).

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of the accumulation of water in 
electrical connectors located in the aft fuselage directly below the 
empennage, resulting in empennage flight control related crew 
alerting system (CAS) messages. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the accumulation of water in electrical connectors located 
in the aft fuselage directly below the empennage. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could, in combination with various 
specific failures or scenarios, result in loss of controllability of 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1.

(h) Exceptions to CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1

    Where CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 R1 refers to its effective 
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in CAAI AD ISR I-27-2025-03-06 
R1 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this 
AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Validation Branch, FAA; or CAAI; or CAAI's authorized Designee. If 
approved by the CAAI Designee, the approval must include the 
Designee's authorized signature.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Richard Bolden, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 404-474-5592; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR I-27-2025-
03-06 R1, dated August 28, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For CAAI material identified in this AD, contact CAAI, P.O. 
Box 1101, Golan Street, Airport City, 70100, Israel; telephone 972-
3-9774665; fax 972-3-9774592; email [email protected]. You may find 
this material on the CAAI website at www.gov.il/en/pages/israeli-
airworthiness-directives.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on April 23, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-09170 Filed 5-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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