Document ID: FAA-2017-1163-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-12-12T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58362-58364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26617]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 58362]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1163; Product Identifier 2017-CE-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

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 the potential for fatigue 
cracks developing in the main landing gear actuator attachment fitting 
that had a certain repair incorporated. This proposed AD would require 
incorporating new revisions into the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness of the Limitations section of the FAA-approved 
maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual) that establish an 
inspection cycle for the repaired MLG side brace actuator fittings. We 
are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 26, 
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, 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 review 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.

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-2017-
1163; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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 the Docket Office (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William O. Herderich, Aerospace 
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, 
Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5547; fax: (404) 474-5605; 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-2017-1163; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-041-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 were notified that fatigue cracking in the main landing gear 
(MLG) actuator attachment fitting could occur on certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Models G-IV and GIV-X airplanes that 
are Maintenance Steering Group ``MSG-3'' compliant and have had repair 
SE05732102 incorporated.
    It has been determined that incorrect fracture toughness was used 
in calculating repetitive inspection intervals based on damage 
tolerances. Repair SE05732102 for the MLG side brace fitting was issued 
without Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). Gulfstream has 
developed new ICA to address this issue.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
MLG actuator attachment, which could compromise the lateral support of 
the MLG during ground maneuvers, possibly leading to collapse of the 
affected MLG with consequent loss of control. In addition, this 
condition could also cause the MLG side brace to fail, which could 
result in penetration of the wing fuel tank and cause an uncontained 
fire.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Gulfstream G350 Customer Bulletin Number 192A, dated 
June 15, 2017, including Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, 
Revision A, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream 
Repair Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016; Gulfstream G450 
Customer Bulletin 192A, dated June 15, 2017, including Appendix A, 
Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair Drawing SE05732102, dated 
December 14, 2016; Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 238A, dated 
June 15, 2017, including Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, 
Revision A, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream 
Repair Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016; Gulfstream G300 
Customer Bulletin Number 238A, dated June 15, 2017, including Appendix 
A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553,

[[Page 58363]]

Revision A, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream 
Repair Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016; and Gulfstream G400 
Customer Bulletin Number 238A, dated June 15, 2017, including Appendix 
A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair Drawing SE05732102, dated 
December 14, 2016. In combination, the service information describes 
procedures for inspecting maintenance records to determine if repair 
SE05732102 for the main landing gear side brace fitting has been 
incorporated and determining initial and repetitive inspection 
requirements for the main landing gear side brace fitting. 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 accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 709 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
            Action                  Labor cost               Parts cost               product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect Maintenance Records...  1 work-hour x $85  Not applicable...............             $85         $60,265
                                 per hour = $85.
Incorporate new revisions into  1 work-hour x $85  Not applicable...............              85          60,265
 the Instructions for            per hour = $85.
 Continued Airworthiness of
 the Limitations section of
 the FAA-approved maintenance
 program (e.g., maintenance
 manual).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 and domestic business jet transport airplanes 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-2017-1163; Product 
Identifier 2017-CE-041-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 26, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation model airplanes that are certificated in any category:
    (1) Model G-IV, serial numbers (S/Ns) 1000 through 1399 having 
Aircraft Service Change (ASC) 416A (MSG-3) incorporated; and S/Ns 
1400 through 1535; and
    (2) Model GIV-X, S/Ns 4001 through 4355.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 32, Landing Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the potential for fatigue cracks in the 
main landing gear (MLG) actuator attachment fitting that had a 
certain repair incorporated. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the MLG actuator attachment. The unsafe condition, if not

[[Page 58364]]

corrected, could compromise the lateral support of the MLG during 
ground maneuvers, possibly leading to collapse of the affected MLG 
with consequent loss of control. In addition, this condition could 
also cause the MLG side brace to fail, which could result in a 
penetration of the wing fuel tank causing an uncontained fire.

(f) Compliance

    Within the next 100 hours time-in-service after the effective 
date of this AD, comply with the actions in paragraphs (g) through 
(i) of this AD, unless already done.

(g) Inspect Maintenance Records

    Inspect the airplane maintenance records to determine if repair 
SE05732102 for the MLG side brace fitting has been incorporated. To 
do this inspection, use the Accomplishment Instructions in 
Gulfstream G350 Customer Bulletin Number 192A; Gulfstream G450 
Customer Bulletin 192A; Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 238A; 
Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin Number 238A; and Gulfstream G400 
Customer Bulletin Number 238A; all dated June 15, 2017, as 
applicable. The service information referenced in this paragraph 
specifies sending a service reply card back to Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation if repair SE05732102 for the MLG side brace fitting has 
been not been incorporated. This action is not required in this AD.

(h) Determine Initial and Repetitive Inspection Requirements

    If it is determined during the maintenance records inspection 
required in paragraph (g) of this AD that repair SE05732102 for the 
MLG side brace fitting has been incorporated, determine the initial 
and repetitive inspection requirements using the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service information identified in paragraph (g) 
of this AD along with the following documents, as applicable. Comply 
with the inspection requirements as determined.
    (1) Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair 
Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016, to Gulfstream G350 
Customer Bulletin No. 192A, dated June 15, 2017;
    (2) Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair 
Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016, to Gulfstream G450 
Customer Bulletin No. 192A, dated June 15, 2017;
    (3) Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair 
Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016, to Gulfstream IV 
Customer Bulletin No. 283A, dated June 15, 2017;
    (4) Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair 
Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016, to Gulfstream G300 
Customer Bulletin No. 283A, dated June 15, 2017; and
    (5) Appendix A, Gulfstream Document GIV-SGER-553, Revision A, 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for Gulfstream Repair 
Drawing SE05732102, dated December 14, 2016, to Gulfstream G400 
Customer Bulletin No. 283A, dated June 15, 2017.

(i) Revise Limitations Section

    Insert the documents listed in paragraphs (h)(1) through (5) of 
this AD into the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the 
Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., 
maintenance manual), as applicable. The revised limitations sections 
establish inspections of the repaired MLG side brace actuator 
fittings.

(j) 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 (k)(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.
    (3) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (g) 
through (i) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact William O. 
Herderich, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5547; 
fax: (404) 474-5605; 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 review 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 December 5, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26617 Filed 12-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P