Proposed Rule2023-07010
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G600 airplanes. This AD 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 that was a result of a disconnect of the left hand flap due to structural failure. This AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit for certain left-hand and right-hand inboard flap yoke fittings. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20436-20438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07010]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0659; Project Identifier AD-2022-01404-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 GVII-G600 airplanes.
This AD 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 that was a result of a disconnect of the left hand flap
due to structural failure. This AD requires revising the airworthiness
limitations section (ALS) of the instructions for continued
airworthiness (ICA) or inspection program for the airplane to establish
a life limit for certain left-hand and right-hand inboard flap yoke
fittings. 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 May 22,
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-2023-0659; 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: Jeffrey Johnson, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5554; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d2ebff93819dff93869e93919dff9396a192b4b3b3fcb5bda4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="497064081a0664081d05080a0664080d3a092f2828672e263f">[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-2023-0659; Project Identifier
AD-2022-01404-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 20437]]
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 Jeffrey Johnson, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5554; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b48d99f5e7fb99f5e0f8f5f7fb99f5f0c7f4d2d5d59ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0e9fd91839ffd91849c91939ffd9194a390b6b1b1feb7bfa6">[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 failure occurred during flight
testing of a Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplane, which is structurally
similar to the GVII-G600 airplane, when the aircraft was configuring
for a steep approach test point, the crew received a flap failure
message. After an investigation, it was discovered that the left-hand
flap track ``B'' yoke became disconnected due to structural failure.
Gulfstream's investigation revealed that certain left-hand and right-
hand inboard flap yoke fittings have fatigue life design flaws,
including insufficient shaft diameter, a small fillet radius detail on
the shaft, and rough surface finish. These design flaws attributed to
higher stress concentrations which could cause fracture of the flap
actuator yoke at the junction of the fitting shaft and yoke clevis.
Gulfstream revised the ALS for the applicable airplanes to establish a
life limit for the affected inboard flap yoke fittings. The design
flaws, if not addressed, could result in the flaps being jammed in the
position when the fracture occurred. Additional failures in the flap
actuator force limiter, or flap yoke actuator disconnect, could result
in asymmetric flap positions leading to a 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing ICA
or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of
4,000 flight cycles for the left-hand part number (P/N) 73P5755033M005
and right-hand P/N 73P5755033M006 inboard flap yoke fittings.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 41 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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Revise ALS............................ 1 work-hour x $85 per N/A $85 $3,485
hour = $85.
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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
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:
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2023-0659; Project
Identifier AD-2022-01404-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 22, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-
G600 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 73001
through 73051 inclusive.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
Controls.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD 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 that was a result of a disconnect of the left
hand flap due to structural failure. Gulfstream's investigation
revealed the need to establish a life limit for the affected inboard
flap yoke fittings. The FAA is issuing this AD to address design
flaws that cause decreased fatigue life of the yoke fittings and
attribute to higher stress concentrations at the junction of the
fitting shaft and yoke clevis. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in flaps being jammed in the position when
the fracture occurred. Additional
[[Page 20438]]
failures in the flap actuator force limiter, or flap yoke actuator
disconnect, could result in asymmetric flap positions leading to a
loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Incorporation of ALS Revisions
Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the
existing ALS of the ICA or inspection program for your airplane by
establishing a life limit of 4,000 flight cycles for the left-hand
part number (P/N) 73P5755033M005 and right-hand P/N 73P5755033M006
inboard flap yoke fittings.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): The life limit in paragraph (g) of this
AD is contained in table 2 in Section 05-10-10 of Gulfstream GVII-
G600 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 9, dated November 15,
2022.
(h) 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 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)(1) of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Jeffrey Johnson,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5554; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#536a7e12001c7e12071f12101c7e121720133532327d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90a9bdd1c3dfbdd1c4dcd1d3dfbdd1d4e3d0f6f1f1bef7ffe6">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For Gulfstream service information identified in this AD
that is not incorporated by reference, contact Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah,
GA 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6c6c3d4c5f6d1c3dad0c5c2c4d3d7db98d5d9db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e7e7b6c7d4e697b62687d7a7c6b6f63206d6163">[email protected]</span></a>;
website <a href="http://gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/">gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/</a>. You may view this
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
206-231-3195.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on March 30, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07010 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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