DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0796; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00902-T;
Amendment 39-21367; AD 2020-26-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. This
AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as
specified in a Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD, which is
incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 1, 2021.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, The
Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street,
Airport City, 70100, Israel; phone: 972-3-9774665; fax: 972-3-9774592;
email: aip@mot.gov.il. You may find this IBR material on the CAAI
website at https://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-
0796.

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-
0796; 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, any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The CAAI, which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued
CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02, dated June 28, 2020 (CAAI AD ISR-I-04-
2020-06-02) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness
Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all
Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. Airplanes with
an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of
airworthiness issued after September 15, 2019, must comply with the
airworthiness limitations specified as part of the approved type design
and referenced on the type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore
does not include those airplanes in the applicability.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Gulfstream
Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on September 16, 2020 (85 FR57799). The NPRM was
prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations are necessary. The NPRM proposed to require revising the
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to
incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as
specified in CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address solder cracking of the flight
control electronic control units (FCECUs), which, combined with latent
failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator (HSTA) "no-back"
mechanism, could result in uncontrolled HSTA operation. See the MCAI
for additional background information.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM 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,
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these
minor changes:

Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and

Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

CAAI AD ISR-I-04-2020-06-02 describes new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations for airplane structures and safe life limits.
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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 160 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator,
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator
to operator. In the past, the agency has estimated that this action
takes 1 work-hour per airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance
or inspection program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has
determined that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-
airplane estimate. Therefore, the agency estimates the average total
cost per operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).

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,

(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: