DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0334; Product Identifier 2020-NM-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report of inadequate clearance
between the fuel probes and forward fuel tank structure. This proposed
AD would require measuring the clearance between certain fuel probes
and the forward fuel tank structure, and reinstalling the probes if
necessary, as specified in a Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI)
AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 11,
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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For the material identified in this proposed AD that will be
incorporated by reference (IBR), contact the CAAI, Mr. Vladimir
Novicov, Engineering Branch, CAAI--P.O. Box 1101, 3 Golan Street,
Airport City, Israel, 70151; telephone 972-3-9774529; fax 972-3-
9774592; email novicovv@mot.gov.il. You may find this IBR material on
the CAAI website at www.caa.gov.il. You may view this IBR material at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also
available in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0334.

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-2020-0334;
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 NPRM, 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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226;
email tom.rodriguez@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2020-0334;
Product Identifier 2020-NM-014-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM based on those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, 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 received about this NPRM.

Discussion

The CAAI, which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued
Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5, dated October 10, 2019 ("Israeli AD ISR-
I-53-19-10-5") (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe
condition for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280
airplanes.

This proposed AD was prompted by a report of inadequate clearance
between certain fuel probes (probe No.1 and probe No.3) and the forward
fuel tank structure. The FAA is proposing this AD to address such
inadequate clearance, which could result in a potential source of
ignition in a fuel tank, possible fire, and consequent reduced
structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional
background information.

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 requires checking the clearance between
forward fuel probes No. 1 and aft probe No. 3 and the forward fuel tank
structure, by measuring each probe's distance to the adjacent skin, and
adjusting the clearance, including reinstallation of the probes at the
correct distance if necessary. This material 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 and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to a bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, the FAA
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD because we 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 described previously, as incorporated by
reference.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and the European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop a process to use certain EASA
ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with
requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since coordinated
with other manufacturers and civil aviation authorities to use this
process. As a result, Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 will be incorporated
by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore,
require compliance with Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 in its entirety,
through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Service
information specified in Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 that is required
for compliance with Israeli AD ISR-I-53-19-10-5 will be available on
the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0334 after the FAA final rule is
published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 80 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty
coverage for affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included
all known costs in the 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.

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.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA has determined that this proposed AD would not have
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD
would 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 this proposed
regulation:

(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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):