DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; Project Identifier AD-2022-01026-T]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
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 Corporation Model G-1159A, G-1159B and
all G-IV, and GIV-X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a
report that the ground spoiler actuator installation allows improper
hydraulic line connections that could result in unintended asymmetrical
spoiler deployment. This proposed AD would require incorporating
corrective actions that physically prevent improper connection of the
hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler actuator. 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 January 9,
2023.

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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; 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, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Belete, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5580; email: 9-ASO-ATLACO-ADs
@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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; Project Identifier
AD-2022-01026-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Samuel Belete, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA,
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337;
phone: 404-474-5580; email: 9-ASO-ATLACO-ADs@faa.gov. Any commentary
that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will
be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The FAA has received a report that a Gulfstream Model G-IV airplane
was involved in a fatal accident on December 15, 2021 after spoilers
deployed in an asymmetrical manner. The asymmetrical spoiler deployment
resulted in in-flight loss of control of the airplane. The fatal flight
was the first flight after maintenance actions where the spoiler
hydraulic lines were improperly connected (reversed) to the ground
spoiler actuator. The ground spoiler actuator configuration allows
improper hydraulic line connections during maintenance action as a
result of identically threaded connections in close proximity to each
other. Improper connection of the ground spoiler hydraulic lines, if
not addressed, could result in unintended asymmetrical spoiler
deployment, leading to reduced controllability of the airplane, or loss
of control of the airplane in-flight or upon landing.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require incorporating corrective actions
(includes replacing a ground spoiler actuator hydraulic hose and
associated fittings) that physically prevent improper connection of the
hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler actuator.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 550 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed 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 airplane 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 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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, Airplane, 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]

The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive: