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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0960; Product Identifier 2019-CE-049-AD; Amendment
39-19805; AD 2019-23-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVI airplanes. This
AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) for your airplane
by adding an airplane flight manual supplement (AFMS), which contains
operating limitations and abnormal procedures for loss of rudder or yaw
damper. This AD was prompted by a report of an inflight rudder surface
shutdown that resulted in lateral-directional oscillations of the
airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 30, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of December 30,
2019.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by January 27, 2020.
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 https://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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/customer-support.
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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0960.
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-2019-
0960; 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 street address for
the Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Armas, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone: (404) 474-5538; fax: (404) 474-5605; email:
alex.armas@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On October 1, 2019, the FAA received a report from Gulfstream of an
inflight rudder surface shutdown that resulted in lateral-directional
oscillations on a Model GVI airplane. The flight crew experienced an
amber ``Rudder Fail'' crew alerting system message at flight level 340
and was unable to command any movement of the rudder. The flight crew
attempted a Flight Control Reset, but the condition remained. Following
the rudder shutdown, the airplane experienced sustained lateral-
directional oscillations, which persisted for eight minutes before the
flight crew was able to stop the oscillations. The flight crew made an
emergency landing of the airplane with no rudder authority.
The investigation of this inflight event revealed the root cause as
an unstable rudder hinge moment when the aircraft is in a sideslip
condition, combined with a rudder surface shutdown, which is inherent
to the GVI aircraft type design.
A rudder ``shutdown'' occurs when the flight control computer
detects a rudder control anomaly and commands the rudder hydraulic
actuators into damped bypass mode. When this happens, the rudder
becomes unusable and ``floats'' at the aerodynamic neutral position.
After a rudder shutdown, the combination of the unstable rudder hinge
movement with an airplane sideslip could lead to uncontrollable
lateral-directional oscillations of the airplane when operated within
the flight envelope at high altitude and high speed.
This condition, if not addressed, could result in catastrophic
structural damage or loss of control of the airplane. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace G650 Airplane Flight Manual
Supplement No. G650-2019-03, dated November 4, 2019; and Gulfstream
Aerospace G650ER Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. G650ER-2019-03,
dated November 4, 2019. For the applicable airplane designations, the
AFMSs contain new altitude limitations, revised airspeed limitations,
and revised abnormal procedures for loss of rudder or yaw damper. These
limitations prevent the airplane from operating in the portion of the
flight envelope where instability has occurred. 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
The FAA is issuing this AD because it 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.
AD Requirements
This AD requires revising the AFM for your airplane by adding the
applicable AFMS, which contains limitations to the operating envelope
of the airplane and revised abnormal procedures for loss of rudder or
yaw damper.
Differences Between the AD and the Service Information
The AFMSs apply to Model GVI airplanes that do not incorporate
aircraft service change (ASC) 134. However, this
AD applies to all Model GVI airplanes, regardless of whether the
airplane has ASC 134. Gulfstream plans to develop a modification,
tentatively identified as ASC 134, to correct the unsafe condition and
terminate the operating limitations and abnormal procedures in the
AFMS.
Interim Action
The FAA considers this AD interim action. Gulfstream is analyzing
the airplane lateral-directional oscillations and developing a
terminating action that will address the unsafe condition identified in
this AD. Once this action is developed, approved, and available, the
FAA may consider additional rulemaking.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because a rudder shutdown during high altitude and high speed could
produce uncontrollable lateral-directional oscillations of the airplane
and result in catastrophic structural damage or loss of control of the
airplane. Based on data from Gulfstream, the FAA determined that
corrective action within 15 days was necessary because of the
probability that a recurrence of this event could lead to loss of
control of the airplane or catastrophic structural damage. Therefore,
the FAA finds good cause that notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reasons stated above,
the FAA finds that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, the FAA invites you to send any written data, views,
or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include Docket Number FAA-2019-0960
and Product Identifier 2019-CE-049-AD at the beginning of your
comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final
rule. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments it receives, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact it receives about this final rule.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 262 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
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Revise the AFM |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour
= $85 |
Not applicable
|
$85
|
$22,270
|
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, domestic business
jet transport airplanes, and associated appliances to the Director of
the Policy and Innovation Division.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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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