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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).
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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 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: pubs@gulfstream.com;
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:
william.o.herderich@faa.gov.
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, 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
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Inspect Maintenance Records |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
$85 |
$60,265 |
| Incorporate new revisions into
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the Limitations section
of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
85 |
60,265 |
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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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