DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2016-9437; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-131-AD;
Amendment 39-18941; AD 2017-13-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
all
Model G-IV airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that
the G-IV gust lock system allows more throttle travel than was intended
and could allow the throttle to be advanced to reach take-off thrust.
This AD requires modification of the gust lock system, and a revision
of the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate functional
tests. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective August 3, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 3,
2017.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept.,
P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 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 view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It
is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9437.
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-2016-9437;
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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Management Facility, 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: Gideon Jose, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ACE-119A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA
30337; phone: 404-474-5569; fax: 404-474-5606; email:
gideon.jose@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We 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 Model G-IV airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on December 12, 2016 (81 FR 89397) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM
was prompted by a report indicating that the G-IV gust lock system
allows more throttle travel than was intended and could allow the
throttle to be advanced to reach take-off thrust. The intended function
of the gust lock system is to restrict throttle lever movement to a
maximum of 6 degrees of forward travel, which provides an unmistakable
warning to the pilot that the gust lock system is still engaged,
prohibiting the use of the primary flight control surfaces. The NPRM
proposed to require modification of the gust lock system, and a
revision of the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate
functional tests. We are issuing this AD to prevent the throttle lever
movement from advancing more than 6 degrees of forward travel, which
could result in the aircraft reaching near take-off thrust and high
velocities without primary flight controls (aileron, elevator, and rudder)
and cause a failure to rotate during take-off and high speed runway overrun.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comment received. The commenter, the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), supported the NPRM.
New Service Information
Since we issued the NPRM, we received the following customer
bulletins that clarify the modification instructions, and we have
revised paragraph (g) of this AD to refer to these bulletins:
Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017;
Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017; and
Gulfstream G400 Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017.
We have also added the following customer bulletins to paragraph
(k) of this AD to provide credit for the actions required by paragraph
(g) of this AD if those actions were performed before the effective
date of this AD:
Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 236A, dated August
8, 2016;
Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin Number 236A, dated
August 8, 2016; and
Gulfstream G400 Customer Bulletin Number 236A, dated
August 8, 2016.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed the following customer bulletins:
Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017;
Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017; and
Gulfstream G400 Customer Bulletin Number 236B, dated
February 3, 2017.
The service information describes procedures for modifying the gust
lock system by doing a retrofit of the gust lock throttle interlock.
These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane
models in different configurations.
We also reviewed the following temporary revisions (TRs):
Gulfstream IV Maintenance Manual TR 27-3, dated April 29,
2016;
Gulfstream IV MSG-3 Maintenance Manual TR 27-3, dated
April 29, 2016;
Gulfstream G300 Maintenance Manual TR 27-3, dated April
29, 2016; and
Gulfstream G400 Maintenance Manual TR 27-3, dated April
29, 2016.
The service information describes procedures for a functional test
of the throttle lever gust lock protection. These documents are
distinct since they apply to different airplane models in different
configurations.
We also reviewed the following temporary revisions:
Gulfstream IV Maintenance Manual TR 5-7, dated April 29,
2016;
Gulfstream IV MSG-3 Maintenance Manual TR 5-6, dated April
29, 2016;
Gulfstream G300 Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 29,
2016; and
Gulfstream G400 Maintenance Manual TR 5-3, dated April 29,
2016.
The service information describes an airworthiness limitation
(certification maintenance requirement) task to do functional tests of
the throttle lever gust lock protection. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different airplane models in different
configurations.
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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 425 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per
product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Modification and Maintenance
or Inspection Program Revision |
109 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $9,265 |
$9,080 |
$18,345 |
$7,796,625 |
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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.
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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.
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
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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