Document ID: FAA-2018-0690-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2018-08-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37771-37773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16491]

[[Page 37771]]

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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]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-IV and GIV-X 
airplanes. This proposed 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 proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or 
inspection program to incorporate updated inspection requirements and 
life limits that address fatigue cracking of principal structural 
elements (PSEs). We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     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 NPRM, contact Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., 500 Gulfstream 
Road, 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 
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.

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-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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after receipt.

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: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0690; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-022-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    We received a revision to the ALS of the maintenance manual for 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-IV and GIV-X airplanes based 
on fatigue and damage tolerance testing and updated analysis that 
indicates current inspection programs may not be identifying cracks 
before reaching critical size. The revised ALS updates inspection 
requirements and life limits that address fatigue cracking of PSEs. We 
determined that these actions are necessary to address the identified 
unsafe condition. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
fatigue cracking of PSEs, which could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the PSEs and critical components with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed 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 service information describes 
more restrictive inspection intervals or altered NDT inspection 
requirements and updated life limits that address fatigue cracking of 
the PSEs. 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 proposing 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require revising the AMM, Chapter 5 ``Life 
Limits'' and ``Airworthiness Limitations'' sections, to incorporate new 
inspections and life limits based on fatigue and damage tolerance (FTD) 
testing and updated analysis.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 711 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 37772]]

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

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 proposed 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

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2018-0690; Product 
Identifier 2018-CE-022-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 17, 2018.

(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 
maintenance manuals based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing 
and updated analysis. We are 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 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 B, dated 
March 12, 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

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

[[Page 37773]]

30337; phone: 404-474-5552; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) 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: http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. You may view this 
referenced 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 25, 2018.
Pat Mullen,
Aircraft Certification Service, Acting Deputy Director, Policy and 
Innovation Division, AIR-601.
[FR Doc. 2018-16491 Filed 8-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P