[Federal Register: March 30, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 61)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16066-16070]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr06-19]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22034; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Model GV and GV-SP Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of
comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness
directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Model GV and certain Model GV-SP
series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required a one-time
inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator actuators to
determine the part and serial numbers of each actuator, repetitive
inspections of suspect actuators to detect broken damper shafts, and
replacement of any actuator having a broken damper shaft. The original
NPRM would also have required that operators report any broken damper
shaft they find to the FAA. The original NPRM would also have provided
an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspection
requirements of the proposed AD. The original NPRM resulted from
reports of broken or cracked damper shafts within the aileron and
elevator actuator assemblies. This action revises the original NPRM by
proposing to mandate the previously optional terminating action. We are
proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent broken damper shafts, which
could result in locking of an aileron or elevator actuator (hard-over
condition), which would activate the hard-over protection system
(HOPS), resulting in increased pilot workload and consequent reduced
controllability of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this supplemental NPRM by April 24,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this supplemental NPRM.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications
Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 31402-9980, for service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald Avella, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ACE-119A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite
450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 703-6066; fax (770) 703-
6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this supplemental NPRM.
[[Page 16067]]
Send your comments to an address listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Include the docket number ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22034; Directorate
Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD''; at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this supplemental NPRM. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
supplemental NPRM in light of those comments.
We will post all comments submitted, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this supplemental NPRM. Using the search function
of that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level in the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the
AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System receives them.
Discussion
We proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) for an AD (the ``original NPRM'') for all Gulfstream
Model GV and certain Model GV-SP series airplanes. The original NPRM
was published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2005 (70 FR 45581).
The original NPRM proposed to require a one-time inspection of the left
and right aileron and elevator actuators to determine the part and
serial numbers of each actuator, repetitive inspections of suspect
actuators to detect broken damper shafts, and replacement of any
actuator having a broken damper shaft. The original NPRM proposed to
require that operators report any broken damper shaft they find to the
FAA. The original NPRM also proposed to provide an optional terminating
action for the repetitive inspection requirements of the proposed AD.
Comments
We have considered the following comments on the original NPRM.
Request for Correction of the Statement of Proposed Requirements
One commenter, Gulfstream Aerospace, requests that we correct our
position in the ``FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed
AD'' section of the original NPRM that states that we are not requiring
the terminating action (i.e., replacement of all suspect actuators)
because the necessary replacement parts are not yet available.
Gulfstream asserts that the new, improved replacement actuators are now
available and that airplane owners are required to replace the
actuators during the recall time, after which the replacement cost will
be charged to the customer.
From this comment, we infer that Gulfstream is ultimately
requesting that we revise the original NPRM to require the previously
optional terminating replacement. We agree that the terminating
replacement should now be required. We have confirmed that the
necessary replacement actuators are available. Therefore, we have
revised the original NPRM to require the previously optional
terminating actuator replacement and have revised the ``FAA's
Determination and Requirements of the Supplemental NPRM'' section as
requested by Gulfstream.
Request for Addition of Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 124
The other commenter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
requests that we add Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 124, dated
December 8, 2004, to the proposed requirements. The FBI states that
this bulletin lists the part numbers (P/Ns) for the new actuators
necessary for the terminating replacement. The FBI also asserts that
adding this bulletin will prevent operators who have already done the
replacement from being required to do it again.
We agree that Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 124, dated December
8, 2004, should be added to the proposed requirements. As we stated
previously, we have revised the original NPRM to propose to require the
terminating replacement. Because Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin 124
does contain the necessary P/Ns for Model GV series airplanes to do the
replacement, we have added it to this supplemental NPRM as the source
of service information for those airplanes to do the replacement. We
have also added Gulfstream G500 and G550 Customer Bulletins 6, both
dated December 8, 2004, to this supplemental NPRM as the source of
service information for Model GV-SP series airplanes to do the
terminating replacement. These bulletins are described below.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed the following Gulfstream customer bulletins:
Table.--Relevant Service Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model Customer bulletin Dated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GV-SP series airplanes.................. Gulfstream G500 Customer December 8, 2004.
Bulletin 6.
GV-SP series airplanes.................. Gulfstream G550 Customer December 8, 2004.
Bulletin 6.
GV series airplanes..................... Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin December 8, 2004.
124.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The customer bulletins describe procedures for doing a one-time
inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator actuators to
determine the P/N and serial number (S/N) of each actuator and for
replacing identified actuators. The customer bulletins also describe
procedures for reporting accomplishment of the actions and returning
affected actuators to Gulfstream. Accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe
condition.
FAA's Determination and Proposed Requirements of the Supplemental NPRM
The changes discussed above expand the scope of the original NPRM;
therefore, we have determined that it is necessary to reopen the
comment period
[[Page 16068]]
to provide additional opportunity for public comment on this
supplemental NPRM.
Differences Between the Proposed AD and New Customer Bulletins
Gulfstream G500 Customer Bulletin 6 is effective to all Gulfstream
Model G500 series airplanes, and Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin 6 is
effective to all Gulfstream Model G550 series airplanes. The
supplemental NPRM remains applicable only to Gulfstream Model GV-SP
series airplanes having S/Ns 5001 through 5052 inclusive. We have
determined that Model GV-SP series airplanes having S/Ns 5053 and
subsequent are equipped with non-suspect actuators during production.
Gulfstream G500 and G550 Customer Bulletins 6 and Gulfstream GV
Customer Bulletin 124 do not specify what to do if an installed
actuator has either a P/N or S/N that is missing or is unreadable. This
supplemental NPRM would require that those actuators also be inspected
to detect broken damper shafts as if they have a P/N and S/N listed in
the customer bulletins.
These customer bulletins specify replacing a subject actuator
having a P/N and S/N listed in the customer bulletins, but they do not
specify the type of replacement actuator. This supplemental NPRM would
require replacement with either:
A new or serviceable actuator having a subject P/N and S/N
identified in Table 1 ``Serial Number Effectivity Table'' in Gulfstream
G500 and G550 Customer Bulletins 6 and Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin
124, as applicable, provided the actuator has been and continues to be
inspected for broken damper shafts in accordance with the requirements
of this supplemental NPRM; or
A new or serviceable actuator having a new P/N identified
in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number Replacement Table'' in Gulfstream
G500 and G550 Customer Bulletins 6 and Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin
124, as applicable, regardless of the S/N. Replacing an actuator with
an actuator having a new P/N, regardless of S/N, would terminate the
requirements of this supplemental NPRM for that actuator only.
The customer bulletins do not specify reporting findings of broken
damper shafts. This supplemental NPRM would require that findings of
all broken damper shafts be reported to the FAA. When the unsafe
condition addressed by an AD is likely due to a manufacturer's quality
control (QC) problem, a reporting requirement is instrumental in
ensuring that we can gather as much information as possible regarding
the extent and nature of the QC problem or breakdown, especially in
cases where the data may not be available through other established
means. This information is necessary to ensure that proper corrective
action will be taken. Based on the results of these reports, we may
determine that further corrective action is warranted.
The Accomplishment Instructions of the customer bulletins specify
to submit the Service Reply Card or compliance information to the
manufacturer. This supplemental NPRM does not include those actions.
These differences have been coordinated with the airplane
manufacturer.
Clarification of Terminating Action
The terminating action proposed in this supplemental NPRM is
replacement of the suspect actuators with actuators having new P/Ns
listed in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number Replacement Table'' in
Gulfstream G500 and G550 Customer Bulletins 6 and Gulfstream GV
Customer Bulletin 124, as applicable. This is not made clear in the
customer bulletins.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 214 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 174 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD. Gulfstream will provide
replacement parts at no cost to operators.
Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulfstream airplane Average labor Cost per
Action model Work hours rate per hour airplane Fleet cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection for part/serial number.... GV and GV-SP series 1............................ $80 $80 $13,920.
airplanes.
Inspection of actuators, per GV series airplanes..... 14 per actuator.............. 80 1,120 $194,880, per actuator,
inspection cycle (if accomplished). per inspection cycle.
GV-SP series airplanes.. 4 per actuator............... 80 320 $55,680, per actuator,
per inspection cycle.
Terminating replacement.............. GV series airplanes..... 26 per aileron actuator (2 80 4160 $723,840.
actuators per airplane).
52 per elevator actuator (2 80 8,320 $1,447,680.
actuators per airplane).
GV-SP series airplanes.. 32 per aileron actuator (2 80 5,120 $890,880.
actuators per airplane).
52 per elevator actuator (2 80 8,320 $1,447,680.
actuators per airplane).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
We are 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
[[Page 16069]]
because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have 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 that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this supplemental NPRM and placed it in the AD docket. See
the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory
evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2005-22034;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 24,
2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Gulfstream Model GV series airplanes,
and Model GV-SP series airplanes having serial numbers (S/Ns) 5001
through 5052 inclusive; certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of broken or cracked damper
shafts within the aileron and elevator actuator assemblies. We are
issuing this AD to prevent broken damper shafts, which could result
in locking of an aileron or elevator actuator (hard-over condition),
which would activate the hard-over protection system (HOPS),
resulting in increased pilot workload and consequent reduced
controllability of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Service Information References
(f) The term ``customer bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means
the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable Gulfstream
customer bulletins specified in Table 1 of this AD. Although the
customer bulletins recommend completing and submitting the Service
Reply Card or reporting compliance with the customer bulletin, those
actions are not required by this AD.
Table 1.--Applicable Gulfstream Customer Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For-- For model-- Use-- Dated--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Initial/repetitive inspections (i) GV-SP series Gulfstream G500 August 23, 2004.
of and corrective actions for airplanes. Customer Bulletin 4. August 23, 2004.
identified subject actuators. (ii) GV-SP series Gulfstream G550 August 23, 2004.
airplanes. Customer Bulletin 4.
(iii) GV series Gulfstream GV
airplanes. Customer Bulletin
123.
(2) Terminating replacement of (i) GV-SP series Gulfstream G500 December 8, 2004.
subject actuators. airplanes. Customer Bulletin 6. December 8, 2004.
(ii) GV-SP series Gulfstream G550
airplanes. Customer Bulletin 6.
(iii) GV series Gulfstream GV December 8, 2004.
airplanes. Customer Bulletin
124.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection To Determine Actuator Part and Serial Numbers
(g) Within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this AD:
Do a one-time inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator
actuators to determine the part number (P/N) and S/N of each
actuator, in accordance with the applicable customer bulletin.
No Subject Actuators Installed
(h) If no actuator with a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1 ``Serial
Number Effectivity Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin is
identified during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this
AD, no further action is required by this AD, except as required by
paragraph (l) of this AD.
Initial and Repetitive Inspections of Subject Actuators
(i) For any actuator identified during the inspection required
by paragraph (g) of this AD with a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1
``Serial Number Effectivity Table'' of the applicable customer
bulletin, and for actuators for which the P/N or S/N is missing or
unreadable: Before further flight, do a detailed inspection of the
identified actuator to detect a broken damper shaft, in accordance
with the applicable customer bulletin.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
(1) If no damper shaft is found broken: Repeat the inspection
required by paragraph (i) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 500 flight hours, until the terminating replacement specified
in paragraph (j) of this AD is accomplished.
Corrective Action for Subject Actuators
(2) If any damper shaft is found broken: Before further flight,
do the action specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i), (i)(2)(ii), or (j)
of this AD, in accordance with the applicable customer bulletin.
(i) Replace the actuator with a new or serviceable actuator
having a P/N and S/N listed in Table 1 ``Serial Number Effectivity
Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin, provided the new or
serviceable actuator has been inspected in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (i) of this AD. Thereafter, repeat the
inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD for that actuator at
intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours, until the terminating
replacement specified in paragraph (j) of this AD is accomplished.
(ii) Replace the actuator with a new or serviceable actuator
having a new P/N listed in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number
Replacement Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin. This
replacement terminates the requirements of this paragraph for that
actuator only.
[[Page 16070]]
Terminating Replacement
(j) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD:
Replace all identified suspect actuators with new or serviceable
actuators having a new P/N listed in Table 2 ``Retrofit Part Number
Replacement Table'' of the applicable customer bulletin. This
replacement terminates the requirements of this AD, except as
required by paragraph (l) of this AD.
Reporting Requirement
(k) Submit a report of any broken damper shafts to the Manager,
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, One Crown Center,
1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; fax (770)
703-6097. The report must be done at the applicable time specified
in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD. The report must include
the inspection date, the airplane model and S/N, the actuator
position (left or right aileron or elevator), and the actuator P/N
and S/N. Information collection requirements contained in this AD
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
(1) If the inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD is
done after the effective date of this AD: Submit a report within 30
days after the inspection is done.
(2) If an inspection required by paragraph (i) of this AD was
done before the effective date of this AD: Submit a report within 30
days after the effective date of this AD.
Parts Installation
(l) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
an aileron or elevator actuator having a P/N and S/N specified in
the applicable customer bulletin on any airplane, unless the
actuator has been inspected according to paragraph (i) of this AD.
Special Flight Permit Prohibited
(m) Special flight permits (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) are not
allowed if any broken damper shaft is found during any inspection
required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(n)(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 17, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4621 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P