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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0690; Product Identifier 2018-CE-022-AD; Amendment
39-19761; AD 2019-20-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model G-IV and
Model GIV-X airplanes. This AD was prompted by a revision to the
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the aircraft maintenance
manual (AMM) based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing and updated
analysis. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection
program to incorporate updated inspection requirements and life limits
that address fatigue cracking of principal structural elements. The FAA
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 13, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 13,
2019.
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: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/contact/support/#form.
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-2018-0690.
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-2018-
0690; 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, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald "Ron" Wissing,
Airframe
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
The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain
Gulfstream Model G-IV and Model GIV-X airplanes. The SNPRM published in
the Federal Register on April 2, 2019 (84 FR 12530). The FAA preceded
the SNPRM with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that published in
the Federal Register on August 2, 2018 (83 FR 37771). The NPRM proposed
to require revising the ALS in the AMM to incorporate new inspections
and life limits contained in Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008,
Summary of Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness
Limitations, Revision B, dated March 12, 2018. The NPRM was prompted by
a revision to the ALS of the AMM based on fatigue and damage tolerance
testing and updated analysis.
After the FAA issued the NPRM, Gulfstream updated the life limits
in the ALS and issued Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, Summary of
Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness Limitations,
Revision D, dated August 20, 2018. Revision D differs from Revision B
in that the part number (P/N) for the rudder for Model GIV airplanes
has been corrected to reflect P/N 1159CS30004, and new life limits for
fuselage cockpit side post P/N 1159BM50025-5 and P/N 1159BM50025-6 have
been added per Revision C. The SNPRM proposed to require the later
revision of the service information. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
Comments
The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the SNPRM
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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream Document No. GIV-GER-0008, Summary of
Changes to the GIV Series and GIV-X Series Airworthiness Limitations,
Revision D, dated August 20, 2018. This document contains new and
revised inspections and life limits pertaining to fatigue cracking of
principal structural elements. 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
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 711 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
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Parts cost
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Cost per
product
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Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Revise ALS and AMM |
20 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,700 |
Not applicable
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$1,700
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$1,208,700
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The extent of damage found during
the inspection may vary from
airplane to airplane. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
airplanes that might need repairs or the cost of such repairs for each
airplane.
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.
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, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances 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) 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
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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