Document ID: FAA-2020-0796-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes
Posted Date: 2020-12-28T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84199-84201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28406]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 84199]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0796; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00902-T; 
Amendment 39-21367; AD 2020-26-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. This 
AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as 
specified in a Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD, which is 
incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 1, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 1, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, The 
Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, 
Airport City, 70100, Israel; phone: 972-3-9774665; fax: 972-3-9774592; 
email: aip@mot.gov.il. You may find this IBR material on the CAAI 
website at https://www.caa.gov.il. You may view this IBR 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 in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0796.

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-2020-
0796; 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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3226; 
email: tom.rodriguez@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The CAAI, which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued 
CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02, dated June 28, 2020 (CAAI AD ISR-I-04-
2020-06-02) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all 
Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. Airplanes with 
an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of 
airworthiness issued after September 15, 2019, must comply with the 
airworthiness limitations specified as part of the approved type design 
and referenced on the type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore 
does not include those airplanes in the applicability.
    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on September 16, 2020 (85 FR57799). The NPRM was 
prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness 
limitations are necessary. The NPRM proposed to require revising the 
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as 
specified in CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address solder cracking of the flight 
control electronic control units (FCECUs), which, combined with latent 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator (HSTA) ``no-back'' 
mechanism, could result in uncontrolled HSTA operation. See the MCAI 
for additional background information.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM 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, 
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these 
minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02 describes new or more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations for airplane structures and safe life limits. 
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 160 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
    The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or 
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, 
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator 
to operator. In the past, the agency has estimated that this action

[[Page 84200]]

takes 1 work-hour per airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance 
or inspection program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has 
determined that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-
airplane estimate. Therefore, the agency estimates the average total 
cost per operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).

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.

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:

2020-26-12 Gulfstream Aerospace LP: Amendment 39-21367; Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0796; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00902-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 1, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream 
G280 airplanes, certificated in any category, with an original 
airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of 
airworthiness issued on or before September 15, 2019.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address solder cracking of the flight control 
electronic control units (FCECUs), which, combined with latent 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator (HSTA) ``no-
back'' mechanism, could result in uncontrolled HSTA operation.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR-I-
04-2020-06-02, dated June 28, 2020 (CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02).

(h) Exceptions to CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02

    (1) Where CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02 refers to its effective 
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02 refers to the date of its 
issuance, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, and Critical Design 
Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs)

    After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been 
revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 
actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and CDCCLs are allowed 
unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of CAAI AD 
ISR-I-04-2020-06-02.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Large Aircraft Section, 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 Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it 
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this 
AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 
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, Large Aircraft 
Section, 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) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, 
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and 
fax: 206-231-3226; email: tom.rodriguez@faa.gov.

(l) 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR-I-04-
2020-06-02, dated June 28, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02, contact the CAAI, P.O. Box 
1101, Golan Street, Airport City, 70100, Israel; phone: 972-3-
9774665; fax: 972-3-9774592; email: aip@mot.gov.il. You may find 
this IBR material on the CAAI website at https://www.caa.gov.il.
    (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. This material may be found in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0796.

[[Page 84201]]

    (5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email 
fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on December 10, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-28406 Filed 12-23-20; 8:45 am]
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