Proposed Rule2021-24082
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
November 5, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV- SP airplanes. This proposed AD results from corrosion of the horizontal stabilizer lower bonded skin assemblies. This proposed AD would require inspecting the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and associated bonded doublers and bonded stringers, repairing the area susceptible to corrosion, and incorporating revisions to the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) in the existing aircraft maintenance manual (AMM). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61088-61090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24082]
[[Page 61088]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0958; Project Identifier 2019-CE-010-AD]
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 all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-
SP airplanes. This proposed AD results from corrosion of the horizontal
stabilizer lower bonded skin assemblies. This proposed AD would require
inspecting the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and associated bonded
doublers and bonded stringers, repairing the area susceptible to
corrosion, and incorporating revisions to the airworthiness limitations
section (ALS) in the existing aircraft maintenance manual (AMM). 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 December
20, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 NPRM, contact Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206,
Savannah, GA 31402; phone: (800) 810-4853; fax: (912) 965-3520; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbabaeb9a89bbcaeb7bda8afa9bebab6f5b8b4b6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ffffaedfccfe8fae3e9fcfbfdeaeee2a1ece0e2">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/">https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/</a>. 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0958; 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: Ronald Wissing, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park,
GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-5606; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4869b9a959890da839d87879d9a93b4929595da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cebca1a0afa2aae0b9a7bdbda7a0a98ea8afafe0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>.
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-2021-0958; Project Identifier
2019-CE-010-AD'' 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
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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
Ronald Wissing, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
Gulfstream notified the FAA of bond line corrosion on Model GV and
GV-SP airplanes, which causes disbonding between the horizontal
stabilizer lower skin and associated bonded doublers and bonded
stringers. Gulfstream determined that the existing visual inspection in
the AMM does not reliably detect bond line corrosion, and they added a
repetitive non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection to detect the
damage. Gulfstream added the revised inspections to the ALS of the AMM.
This condition, if not addressed, could compromise the structural
integrity of the horizontal stabilizer and lead to loss of control of
the airplane.
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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream G500-5000 Customer Bulletin No. 190,
Revision B; Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin No. 190, Revision B; and
Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin No. 228, Revision B; all dated October
31, 2019. For the applicable marketing designation specified on each
document, the customer bulletins specify procedures for inspecting the
horizontal stabilizer lower bonded skin.
The FAA also reviewed Gulfstream V Maintenance Manual,
Airworthiness Limitations, Section 05-10-10, dated February 28, 2020;
Gulfstream G500-5000 Maintenance Manual, Airworthiness Limitations,
Section 05-10-10, dated March 15, 2021; and Gulfstream G550 Maintenance
Manual, Airworthiness Limitations, Section 05-10-10, dated March 15,
2021. For the applicable marketing designation specified on each
document, the service information contains inspection intervals for
nondestructive testing of the lower horizontal stabilizer skins and
provides the specific reference for the inspection procedures.
[[Page 61089]]
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 also reviewed the following service documents related to
this NPRM:
<bullet> Gulfstream Service Letter Document No. GSL505510019,
Revision E, dated September 3, 2021, which contains procedures for
applying on-wing corrosion inhibiting compound to the horizontal
stabilizer.
<bullet> Gulfstream Service Letter Document No. GSL505510020,
Revision C, dated March 12, 2020, which contains procedures for
applying corrosion inhibiting compound to the horizontal stabilizer.
<bullet> Gulfstream V Nondestructive Testing Procedures Manual
Chapter 05-00-00, 1. Horizontal Stabilizer Lower Skin Resonance C-
Scan--NDT Procedure.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require inspecting the horizontal stabilizer
lower skin and associated bonded doublers and bonded stringers,
repairing the area susceptible to corrosion, and incorporating
revisions to the ALS of the existing AMM.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
The differences between Gulfstream G500-5000 Customer Bulletin No.
190, Revision B; Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin No. 190, Revision B;
and Gulfstream V Customer Bulletin No. 228, Revision B; all dated
October 31, 2019, and this proposed AD are listed below.
<bullet> The service bulletins exclude certain serial-numbered
airplanes inspected by Gulfstream, but this proposed AD would apply to
all Model GV and GV-SP airplanes.
<bullet> The service bulletins include an optional horizontal
stabilizer lower skin resonance A-Scan NDT inspection (referred to in
the Customer Bulletin as ``Part I Inspection'') for critical areas of
the horizontal stabilizer bonded lower skin assemblies, but this
proposed AD would not require the Part I Inspection.
<bullet> The service bulletins allow the horizontal stabilizer
lower skin resonance C-Scan NDT inspection (referred to in the Customer
Bulletin as a ``Part II Inspection'') and application of corrosion
inhibiting compound to be repeated indefinitely every 48 months. This
proposed AD would only allow the Part II inspection to be performed one
time and, within 48 months after the inspection, would require approved
repairs.
<bullet> The customer bulletins contain actions labeled ``Required
for Compliance'' (RC), and the language in the customer bulletin and in
paragraph (j)(4) of this proposed AD indicate 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 the customer
bulletins that are labeled as RC. Operators only need to comply with
the RC steps required by paragraph (i) of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect up to 694 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the
following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Resonance C-Scan NDT (Part II) 80 work-hours x Not applicable......... $6,800 $2,196,400 (for
inspection and CIC application. $85 per hour = 323 airplanes).
$6,800.
AMM revision................... 1 work-hour x $85 Not applicable......... 85 $58,990 (for 694
per hour = $85. airplanes).
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The extent of corrosion found during the proposed inspection may
vary significantly from airplane to airplane. The FAA has no way of
determining the number of airplanes that might need repair or the cost
to repair each 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.
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
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, Aircraft, 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
[[Page 61090]]
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2021-0958; Project
Identifier 2019-CE-010-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by December 20, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and
GV-SP airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
Note 1 to paragraph (c): Model GV-SP airplanes are also referred
to by the marketing designations G500, G550, and G500-5000.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5510, Horizontal
Stabilizer Structure.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD results from corrosion of the horizontal stabilizer
lower bonded skin assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect
and correct bond line corrosion, which if not addressed, could
result in compromise of the structural integrity of the horizontal
stabilizer and lead to loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Incorporation of Airworthiness Limitations (ALS) Revisions
Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, incorporate
into your existing maintenance or inspection program the ALS
revision specified in paragraph (g)(1), (2), or (3) of this AD for
your applicable airplane designation.
(1) For Model GV airplanes: Section F and Table 12: Horizontal
Stabilizer Inspection Table in section 05-10-10, Airworthiness
Limitations, of the Gulfstream V Maintenance Manual, dated February
28, 2020;
(2) For Model GV-SP (G500 and G500-5000) airplanes: Section F
and Table 12: Horizontal Stabilizer Inspection Table in section 05-
10-10, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Gulfstream G500-5000
Maintenance Manual, dated March 15, 2021; or
(3) For Model GV-SP (G550) airplanes: Section F and Table 12:
Horizontal Stabilizer Inspection Table in section 05-10-10,
Airworthiness Limitations, of the Gulfstream G550 Maintenance
Manual, dated March 15, 2021.
(h) Applicable Customer Bulletins
The customer bulletins specified in paragraphs (h)(1) through
(3) of this AD contain procedures for compliance with the actions
required by paragraph (i) of this AD for your applicable airplane
designation.
(1) Gulfstream GV Customer Bulletin No. 228, Revision B, dated
October 31, 2019;
(2) Gulfstream G500-5000 Customer Bulletin No. 190, Revision B,
dated October 31, 2019; or
(3) Gulfstream G550 Customer Bulletin No. 190, Revision B, dated
October 31, 2019.
(i) Inspection
For Model GV airplanes, all serial numbers, and Model GV-SP
airplanes, serial numbers 5001 through 5158, where more than 132
months have elapsed since the original certificate of airworthiness
issue date (often referred to as entry into service date), as of the
effective date of this AD: Within 12 months after the effective date
of this AD, perform the horizontal stabilizer lower skin resonance
C-Scan inspection (Part II inspection) for bond line corrosion and
apply corrosion inhibiting compound (CIC) by following steps 6.2.a.
through 6.2.e. and 6.3.a. of appendix A of the applicable customer
bulletin listed in paragraph (h) of this AD.
Note 2 to the introductory text of paragraph (i): The
inspections listed in the applicable ALS revision in paragraph (g)
of this AD must also be accomplished at the same time you perform
the Part II inspection.
(1) Within 48 months after applying CIC, repair the area using a
method approved as specified in paragraph (j)(3) of this AD.
(2) If there is bond line corrosion that exceeds the allowable
damage limit, before further flight, repair the area using a method
approved as specified in paragraph (j)(3) of this AD.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the
person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair, modification, or alteration required by this AD
if it is approved by a Gulfstream Engineering Authorized
Representative (EAR) of the Gulfstream Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA), that has been authorized by the Manager,
Atlanta ACO Branch, to make those findings. To be approved, the
repair, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must meet
the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(4) For service information that contains steps that are labeled
as Required for Compliance (RC), the following provisions apply.
(i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps,
including substeps and identified figures.
(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy
condition.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Ronald Wissing,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404)
474-5606; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88fae7e6e9e4eca6ffe1fbfbe1e6efc8eee9e9a6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aad8c5c4cbc6ce84ddc3d9d9c3c4cdeacccbcb84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O.
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402; phone: (800) 810-4853; fax: (912) 965-
3520; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e5e5b4c5d6e495b42485d5a5c4b4f43004d4143"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a7a7f68794a6d7f666c797e786f6b6724696567">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/">https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/</a>. You may view this
referenced 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.
Issued on October 28, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24082 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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