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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0116; Product Identifier 2019-CE-060-AD; Amendment
39-21026; AD 2020-02-18]
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) Models GVI, GVII-G500,
and GVII-G600 airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight
manual (AFM) by attaching an airplane flight manual supplement (AFMS),
which contains new or revised operating limitations, abnormal
procedures, and emergency procedures. This AD was prompted by reports
of continued flight after a flight control surface shutdown. If flight
is continued after a flight control surface shutdown, the airplane is
left without protection against flight control surface hard-over and
force fight events on the remaining, operable flight control surfaces.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 13, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 13,
2020.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by March 30, 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.
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-2020-0116.
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-2020-
0116; 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 Docket Operations is listed
above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Jalalian, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone: (404) 474-5572; fax: (404) 474-5606; email:
myles.jalalian@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA has received at least 30 reports of the flight control
computer (FCC) commanding flight control surfaces into damped by-pass
mode (surface shutdown). During the investigation of these events, it
was discovered that the existing GVI and GVII airplane flight manuals,
in most cases, allow continued flight after a surface shutdown, and the
GVI airplane flight manual allows takeoff with an inboard spoiler
shutdown.
The FCC commanding of a surface into damped by-pass mode is the
protection provided against flight control hydraulic force fights and
flight control surface hard-over events. If the FCC detects a flight
control anomaly, it commands the surface into damped by-pass mode. The
FCC software will not command a second surface on an axis of control
into damped by-pass mode. Any flight control surface shutdown results
in the loss of FCC-provided protection against future flight control
surface hard-over and force-fight events on the remaining, operable
flight control surfaces on that axis of control. In addition, certain
other system failures will result in the loss of FCC protection against
flight control surface hard-overs and force-fights.
Loss of flight control surface protection could lead to loss of
structural integrity of the airplane and 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. G650-2019-04, dated December 16, 2019; Gulfstream
Aerospace G650ER Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. G650ER-2019-04,
dated December 16, 2019; Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G500 Airplane Flight
Manual Supplement No. GVII-G500-2019-08, dated December 16, 2019; and
Gulfstream Aerospace G600 Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. GVII-
G600-2019-02, dated December 16, 2019. For the applicable airplane
designation, each AFMS contains new or revised operating limitations,
abnormal procedures, and emergency procedures. These limitations and
procedures prohibit flight operations if a flight control or flight
control computer failure is detected and require landing as soon as
possible if the failure occurs in flight. 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 the FAA 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 attaching
the applicable AFMS, which contains new or revised operating
limitations, abnormal procedures, and emergency procedures. This AD
specifies that the owner/operator (pilot) may revise the AFM. Revising
an AFM is not considered a maintenance action and may be done by a
pilot holding at least a private pilot certificate. This action must be
recorded in the aircraft maintenance records to show compliance with
this AD.
Interim Action
The FAA considers this AD, which addresses continued flight after
loss of flight control surface protection, an interim action.
Gulfstream is analyzing the airplane flight control system software and
developing additional 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 continued flight after the loss of flight control surface
protection leaves the airplane one failure away from a catastrophic
event. Current AFM procedures allow continued flight after a system
anomaly that would result in loss of flight control surface protection
against force-fight and hard-over events, leaving the airplane at
extremely high risk for loss of structural integrity of the airplane
and loss of control of the airplane. 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-2020-0116
and Product Identifier 2019-CE-060-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 329 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
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| Attach the applicable AFMS to
your AFM.
|
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
$85
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$27,965
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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 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 the 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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