Document ID: FAA-2021-0216-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2021-12-10T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70367-70368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26786]

[[Page 70367]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0216; Project Identifier 2018-CE-061-AD; Amendment 
39-21860; AD 2021-26-02]
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 all 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-SP 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by the omission of a life limit in the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance manual for a 
certain main landing gear (MLG) trunnion pin. This AD requires revising 
the ALS of your existing instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) 
or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of 
20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., 
500 Gulfstream Road, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; phone: (800) 810-4853; 
fax: (912) 965-3520; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0216; 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, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miral Patel, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 
phone: (404) 474-5590; fax: (404) 474-5606; 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 all Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 17, 2021 (86 FR 
51842). The NPRM was prompted by notification from Gulfstream that a 
life limit for replacing MLG trunnion pin part number (P/N) 1159SCL566-
15 had been omitted from the ALS of the maintenance manual for Model GV 
and GV-SP airplanes. Gulfstream revised the ALS for the applicable 
airplanes to establish a life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for the 
affected MLG trunnion pin. A trunnion pin remaining in service beyond 
its fatigue life could lead to fracture and failure of the trunnion 
pin.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of your 
ICA or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of 
20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent MLG failure, which could lead to a runway 
excursion.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data 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. This AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GV Aircraft Maintenance Manual, 
Revision 53, dated March 15, 2021; Gulfstream G550 Aircraft Maintenance 
Manual, Revision 34, dated March 15, 2021; and Gulfstream G500-5000 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 34, dated March 15, 2021. For the 
applicable marketing designation specified on each document, the 
revised service information adds a life limit for MLG trunnion pin P/N 
1159SCL566-15.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 516 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost             Parts cost          airplane        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS....................  1 work-hour x $85 per  Not applicable.......             $85         $43,860
                                     hour = $85.
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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:

[[Page 70368]]

    (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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

2021-26-02 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-21860; 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0216; Project Identifier 2018-CE-061-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 14, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and 
GV-SP airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c): Model GV-SP airplanes are also referred 
to by the marketing designations G500, G550, and G500-5000.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the omission of a life limit in the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) for a certain main landing 
gear (MLG) trunnion pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a MLG 
trunnion pin from remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in MLG failure and 
could lead to a runway excursion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Revise the ALS

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
existing ALS of the instructions for continued airworthiness or 
aircraft inspection program for your airplane by establishing a life 
limit of 20,000 flight cycles for each MLG trunnion pin part number 
1159SCL566-15.

    Note 2 to paragraph (g): Table 5 in Section 05-10-10 of the 
following aircraft maintenance manuals contains the life limit in 
paragraph (g) of this AD: Gulfstream GV Aircraft Maintenance Manual, 
Revision 53, dated March 15, 2021; Gulfstream G550 Aircraft 
Maintenance Manual, Revision 34, dated March 15, 2021; or Gulfstream 
G500-5000 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 34, dated March 15, 
2021.

(h) 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 (i)(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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Miral Patel, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5590; fax: (404) 
474-5606; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., 500 
Gulfstream Road, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; phone: (800) 810-4853; 
fax: (912) 965-3520; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may view this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on December 6, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26786 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P