Proposed Rule2022-25693
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
November 25, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 226 (Friday, November 25, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72422-72423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25693]
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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:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b58c98f4e6fa98f4e1f9f4f6fa98f4f1c6f5d3d4d49bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0f9ed81938fed81948c81838fed8184b380a6a1a1eea7afb6">[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-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
<a href="http://regulations.gov">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
Samuel Belete, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA,
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337;
phone: 404-474-5580; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbe2f69a8894f69a8f979a9894f69a9fa89bbdbabaf5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8e1f5998b97f5998c94999b97f5999cab98beb9b9f6bfb7ae">[email protected]</span></a>. 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:
[[Page 72423]]
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Incorporating corrective actions 16 work-hours x $85 per $500 $1,860 $1,023,000
(includes replacing the hydraulic hour = $1,360.
hose to the ground spoiler actuator
and associated fittings).
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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 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
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]
The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; Project
Identifier AD-2022-01026-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by January 9, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD,
certificated in any category.
(1) Model G-1159A airplanes having S/Ns 385, 387, 388, and 390
through 498 inclusive.
(2) Model G-1159B airplanes having S/Ns 009, 016, 042, 048, 054,
064, 086, 088, 095, 098, 102, 119, 123, 125, 131, 140, 151, 154,
155, 156, 165, 166, 189, 198, 199, 207, 219, 237, 245, 254, 255, and
257
(3) Model G-IV airplanes, all serial numbers.
(4) Model GIV-X airplanes, all serial numbers.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
Controls.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by 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 an incorrect connection of the ground
spoiler hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
incorrect connection of the hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler
actuator. The unsafe condition, 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.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of
this AD, incorporate 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, in accordance with a method approved by the
Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA.
(1) For Model G-1159A, G-1159B, and G-IV airplanes: Within 18
months after the effective date of this AD.
(2) For Model GIV-X airplanes: Within 60 months after the
effective date of this AD.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
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 responsible Flight Standards 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 (i) of this AD.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2dbcfa3b1adcfa3b6aea3a1adcfa3a691a2848383cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d44503c2e32503c29313c3e32503c390e3d1b1c1c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on November 16, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-25693 Filed 11-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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