[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14953]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-202-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream G-1159 (G-II), G-1159A (G-
III), and G-1159B (G-IIB) Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all 
Gulfstream G-1159 (G-II), G-1159A (G-III), and G-1159B (G-IIB) series 
airplanes. That action would have required a one-time inspection to 
detect corrosion of the material layers of the lower aft fuselage skin 
in Fuselage Station (FS) 580 bulkhead assembly, and repair, if 
necessary. The proposal also would have required modification of the 
aft fuselage area and various follow-on actions. Since the issuance of 
the NPRM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received new 
data from the manufacturer verifying that all airplanes have 
accomplished those actions. Accordingly, the proposed rule is 
withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Berryman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ACE-116A, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft Certification, One Crown Center, 1895 
Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 
703-6098; fax (770) 703-6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add a new airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to all Gulfstream G-1159 (G-II), G-1159A (G-
III), and G-1159B (G-IIB) series airplanes, was published in the 
Federal Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on June 24, 
1996 (61 FR 32369). The proposed rule would have required a one-time 
inspection to detect corrosion of the material layers of the lower aft 
fuselage skin in Fuselage Station (FS) 580 bulkhead assembly, and 
repair, if necessary. The proposal also would have required 
modification of the aft fuselage area and various follow-on actions. 
That action was prompted by reports of varying levels of corrosion in 
the structure at FS 580. The proposed actions were intended to prevent 
the retention of moisture in the fuselage structure, and subsequent 
corrosion in FS 580 bulkhead assembly, which could result in reduced 
structural capability of the skin joint and resultant depressurization 
of the airplane.

Actions That Occurred Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since the issuance of that NPRM, Gulfstream has provided evidence 
to the FAA that the actions proposed in the NPRM have been accomplished 
on all affected airplanes. (Evidence was provided to the FAA in 
Gulfstream's letter of May 30, 2000, which is filed in the Rules 
Docket.)

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that the unsafe 
condition no longer exists on the subject airplanes. Accordingly, the 
proposed rule is hereby withdrawn.
    Withdrawal of this notice of proposed rulemaking constitutes only 
such action, and does not preclude the agency from issuing another 
notice in the future, nor does it commit the agency to any course of 
action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking, 
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore is not covered 
under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 95-NM-202-
AD, published in the Federal Register on June 24, 1996 (61 FR 32369), 
is withdrawn.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 7, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-14953 Filed 6-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U