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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0156; Project Identifier AD-2020-01594-T;
Amendment 39-21650; AD 2021-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500
airplanes. This AD results from flap yoke fittings with design features
that cause decreased fatigue life. This AD requires replacing the flap
inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and establishing a 20,000
flight cycle life limit for the fittings. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective August 26, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 26, 2021.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept.,
P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402; phone: (800) 810-4853; email:
pubs@gulfstream.com; website: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2021-0156.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0156; 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: Jeffrey Johnson, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA
30337; phone: (404) 474-5554; fax: (404) 474-5606; email:
jeffrey.d.johnson@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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 Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplanes. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2021 (86 FR 24546). The
NPRM was prompted by a failure that occurred during flight testing of a
Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplane, when the aircraft was configuring
for a steep approach test point, the crew received a flap failure
message. After landing, inspection revealed that the left-hand flap
track 'B' yoke had become disconnected due to structural failure.
Gulfstream's investigation to determine the root cause of the failure
revealed that the flap yoke fittings for certain serial-numbered
Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplanes have design features that cause
decreased fatigue life. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require
replacing the flap inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and
revising the Airworthiness Limitations Instructions of your existing
aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to incorporate a 20,000 flight cycle
life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-G500 Aircraft Service Change No.
032, Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020 (Gulfstream ASC No. 032).
This service information specifies procedures for replacing the flap
inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and upper bushings. 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 ADDRESSES.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-500 Customer Bulletin No. 045,
Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020. This service information
specifies the compliance time and additional information for Gulfstream
ASC No. 032. The FAA also reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G500
Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document Number GAC-AC-GVII-G500-AMM-0001,
Revision 7, dated December 15, 2020. This document contains revised
airworthiness limitations, maintenance checks, and inspections.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
Gulfstream ASC No. 032 contains actions labeled "Required for
Compliance" (RC), and the language in Gulfstream ASC No. 032 and in
paragraph (h)(3) of this AD indicates that operators must comply with
all actions labeled RC for compliance with this AD. However, this AD
does not require all of the steps in Gulfstream ASC No. 032 that are
labeled as RC. Operators only need to comply with the RC steps
specified in paragraph (g) of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 85 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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ACTION
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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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| Replace the flap inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and update the existing AMM. |
83.5 work-hours x $85.00 per hour = $7,097.50. |
$8,015.00
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$15,112.50
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$1,284,562.50
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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.
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.
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:
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