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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; Product Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD; Amendment
39-19136; AD 2017-26-05]
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
certain
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-1159A (GIII), G-IV, and GIV-X
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks
were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design
minimum. This AD requires replacing any defective flap track. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 25, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of January 25,
2018.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Savannah,
Georgia 31404-2206; telephone: (800) 810-4853; fax: (912) 965-3520;
email: pubs@gulfstream.com; internet: http://www.gulfstream.com/product-
support/technical-publications/pubs/index.htm. You may view
this 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. It is
also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0910.
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-2017-0910;
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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office
(phone: 800-647-5527) is Document 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: Ron Wissing, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-5606; email:
ronald.wissing@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 certain Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Models G-1159A (GIII), G-IV, and
GIV-X airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
September 22, 2017 (82 FR 44359). The NPRM was prompted by a report
from Gulfstream that, during maintenance while replacing flap tracks on
one of the affected airplanes, it was discovered that certain flap
tracks were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than
design minimum and do not meet design load margins. The NPRM proposed
to require replacing any defective flap track. We are issuing this AD
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. The following presents the comment received on the
NPRM and the FAA's response to the comment.
Request To Change the Effective Date
Gulfstream requested that the effective date be set in-line with
the service information incorporated by referenced in the proposed AD.
Gulfstream stated that the compliance time specified in Gulfstream
III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream G450 Customer Bulletin
Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 240, all dated
June 28, 2017, which are the incorporated by reference documents listed
in the proposed AD, is 12 months from the release date of the service
information.
Gulfstream stated that if the AD becomes effective before January
18, 2018, the compliance time will be less than that allowed in the
service information.
We do not agree that the possibility of this AD becoming effective
before January 18, 2018, will result in a reduced compliance time than
that allowed in the related service information. We infer that the
commenter thinks a reduced compliance time would cause an undue burden
on the owners/operators of the affected airplanes. This AD will not be
effective until 35 days after publication in the Federal Register;
therefore, we do not believe there will be any significant difference
in the allowable compliance time for operators. We have not changed
this AD based on this comment.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this final rule as proposed except for 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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin
Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017. The applicable model service
information describes procedures for replacing any discrepant flap
track C with an airworthy part. 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 6 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
|
| Replace flap track C |
99 work-hours x $85
per hour = $8,415 per flap
track C
|
$10,644 per flap track
C |
$19,059 per flap track C. There
may be a flap track C on the left-side and the right-side of the airplane,
for a total of 2 per airplane. |
$114,354 per flap track
C |
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.
This 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
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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