DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0199; Product Identifier 2020-NM-035-AD; Amendment
39-19860; AD 2020-05-12]
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 Model GVII-G500 and GVII-G600
airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM)
for your airplane to incorporate revised limitations and procedures.
This AD was prompted by a report of a landing incident where the alpha
limiter engaged in the landing flare in unstable air while on the
approach, resulting in a high rate of descent landing and damage to the
airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 13, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 13,
2020.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 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: Deliver to Mail address above 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-2020-0199.

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-
0199; 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,
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5572; fax: 404-474-5606;
email: Myles.Jalalian@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA has received a report of a Gulfstream Model GVII-G500
airplane that was involved in a landing incident where the alpha (angle
of attack) limiter engaged during the landing flare in unstable air.
The engagement of the alpha limiter resulted in insufficient nose-up
authority to control the descent rate at touchdown even though the
sidestick was in the full aft position. The airplane landed in a 900-
feet-per-minute descent, with resulting damage to the airplane. The
flight control system alpha limiter can engage even when the airplane
is not near a critical angle of attack and limit the pilot's pitch
authority in the flare, resulting in a landing at a high rate of
descent. Unstable air, combined with rapid, large, and alternating
pitch commands, contributes to the alpha limiter engaging at an
inappropriate time, possibly resulting in a high rate of descent
contact with the runway and loss of control of the airplane as a result
of a hard landing. To address this issue, the FAA is requiring
revisions to be made to the AFM for your airplane. The revised AFM
limits the maximum crosswind component for landing, and also increases
the normal approach speeds, based on steady-state winds and wind gusts.
These new and revised operating limitations and revised landing
procedures minimize the possibility of unintended alpha limiter
engagement thereby minimizing the possibility of reduced pilot flight
control authority during the landing flare.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed following service information, which has been
revised to provide new and revised operating limitations and flight
control and landing procedures in strong winds and gusty conditions.
Gulfstream GVII-G500 Airplane Flight Manual, GAC-AC-GVII-G500-OPS-
0001, Revision 5, dated March 3, 2020.
Step 3., ``Wind Conditions,'' of Section 01-02-10,
``Runway, Slope and Wind Conditions,'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''
Step 15., ``Approach Speed,'' of Section 01-03-40,
``Airspeed Limitations,'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''
Section 01-27-10, ``Normal Control Laws,'' of Chapter 01,
``LIMITATIONS.''
Step 5., Section 01-34-40, ``Takeoff and Landing Data
(TOLD),'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''
``WARNING,'' preceding Step 4. of Section 02-05-50,
``Landing,'' of Chapter 02, ``NORMAL OPERATIONS.''
Step 11., ``Landing,'' of Section 03-12-10, ``Zero Flaps
or Partial Flaps Landings,'' of Chapter 03, ``ABNORMAL PROCEDURES.''
Step 8., ``Final Approach Fix,'' of Section 04-08-40,
``One Engine Inoperative Landing Procedure,'' of Chapter 04,
``EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.''
Step 1, ``Introduction,'' of Section 05-11-10, ``Threshold
Speeds,'' of Chapter 05, ``PERFORMANCE FAA BASELINE.''
Step 1, ``Introduction,'' of Section 5A-11-10, ``Threshold
Speeds,'' of Chapter 5A, ``PERFORMANCE (ASC 022).''
Gulfstream GVII-G600 Airplane Flight Manual, GAC-AC-GVII-G600-OPS-
0001, Revision 3, dated March 3, 2020.
Step 3., ``Wind Conditions,'' of Section 01-02-10,
``Runway, Slope and Wind Conditions,'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''
Step 15., ``Approach Speed,'' of Section 01-03-40,
``Airspeed Limitations,'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''
Section 01-27-10, ``Normal Control Laws,'' of Chapter 01,
``LIMITATIONS.''
Steps 3. and 4., Section 01-34-40, ``Takeoff and Landing
Data (TOLD),'' of Chapter 01, ``LIMITATIONS.''

``WARNING,'' preceding Step 4., of Section 02-05-50,
``Landing,'' of Chapter 02, ``NORMAL OPERATIONS.''
Step 11., ``Landing,'' of Section 03-12-10, ``Zero Flaps
or Partial Flaps Landings,'' of Chapter 03, ``ABNORMAL PROCEDURES.''
Step 8.,'' ``Final Approach Fix,'' of Section 04-08-40,
``One Engine Inoperative Landing Procedure,'' of Chapter 04,
``EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.''
Step 1, ``Introduction,'' of Section 05-11-10, ``Threshold
Speeds,'' of Chapter 05, ``PERFORMANCE.''
Step 1, ``Introduction,'' of Section 05-11-20, ``Tire
Speed and BKE Limited Maximum Landing Weight,'' of Chapter 05,
``PERFORMANCE.''
These documents are distinct because they apply to different
airplane models. 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 agency 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 to incorporate
revised limitations and procedures. Specific revisions must be made to
the sections of the applicable AFM described previously.
This AD specifies that the owner/operator (pilot) may revise the
AFM. Revising an AFM is not considered a maintenance action that must
be performed by a certified person as specified in 14 CFR 43.3 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 interim action. The manufacturer is
currently developing a modification that will address the unsafe
condition identified in this AD. Once this modification is developed,
approved, and available, the FAA might consider additional rulemaking.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment prior to the
rulemaking. Similarly, Section 553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to
make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good
cause.
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 foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because, as described in the Discussion section of this AD,
inappropriate alpha limiter engagement during the landing flare limits
the pilot's pitch authority during a critical phase of flight near the
ground, and could result in a landing at a high rate of descent and the
possible consequent loss of control of the airplane. Given the
significance of the risk presented by this unsafe condition, it must be
immediately addressed.
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
impracticable pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, for the
reasons stated above, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30
days.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

The requirements of the 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.

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 the docket number FAA-2020-
0199 and Product Identifier 2020-NM-035-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 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 62 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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

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):