Proposed Rule2024-18635
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
August 22, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII- G600 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the electrical grounding receptacles located on the left and right wings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the electrical grounding receptacles for cracks and corrosion, performing applicable on-condition actions, and sealing over the grounding receptacles on the top of the wings to permanently disable the receptacle. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67913-67915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18635]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2021; Project Identifier AD-2023-01077-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII-
G600 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking
in the electrical grounding receptacles located on the left and right
wings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the electrical
grounding receptacles for cracks and corrosion, performing applicable
on-condition actions, and sealing over the grounding receptacles on the
top of the wings to permanently disable the receptacle. 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 October 7,
2024.
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-2024-2021; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference: <bullet> For Gulfstream
material identified in this AD, 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#d8a8adbaab98bfadb4beabacaabdb9b5f6bbb7b5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cece9feefdcfbe9f0faefe8eef9fdf1b2fff3f1">[email protected]</span></a>; website
<a href="http://gulfstream.com/en/customer-support">gulfstream.com/en/customer-support</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material 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. It is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harun Kalin, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#340d1975677b1975607875777b19757047745255551a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6cfdbb7a5b9dbb7a2bab7b5b9dbb7b285b6909797d8919980">[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-2024-2021; Project Identifier
AD-2023-01077-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
[[Page 67914]]
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 Harun Kalin, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fac3d7bba9b5d7bbaeb6bbb9b5d7bbbe89ba9c9b9bd49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="50697d11031f7d11041c11131f7d111423103631317e373f26">[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 of cracks found in the electrical
grounding receptacles located on the left and right wings of certain
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII airplanes. Further
investigation revealed that the cracks were initiated by the collection
of water in the electrical grounding receptacle leading to corrosion
and mechanical stresses from water freeze and thaw cycles. Water can
leak through the o-ring/pin interface of the grounding receptacle and
fill the housing over time. The subsequent freeze and thaw cycles of
the entrapped water over multiple flights resulted in cracking and
failures within the receptacle, which can be exacerbated by corrosion.
Fuel vapors can escape through a cracked receptacle during over-wing
fueling operations. When the ground crew attempts to connect equipment
to grounding receptacle a spark from refueling equipment could ignite
flammable fuel mixture in the fuel tank. Fuel leaking from the
electrical grounding receptacles could result in a potential source of
ignition in a fuel tank and consequent fire or explosion.
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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089,
dated November 28, 2023; and Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No.
058, dated November 28, 2023. This material specifies procedures for
the following actions:
<bullet> Borescope inspections for cracking and corrosion of the
interior walls of the grounding receptacle casing.
<bullet> Measurement of the inner diameter of the grounding
receptacle if any Level 1 corrosion is found.
<bullet> Repair including cleaning and application of chemical
conversion coating if any Level 1 corrosion within the specified
tolerance (inner diameter) is found.
<bullet> Replacement of the grounding receptacle assembly if any
crack, any Level 2 or Level 3 corrosion, or any level 1 corrosion
outside of the specified tolerance is found.
<bullet> Removal of the ``GROUND HERE'' decal/stencil from the
grounding receptacles, and application of epoxy over the ground
receptacle area to permanently disable the receptacles.
These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane
models.
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in ADDRESSES.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the material already described, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this
material at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2024-2021.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 236 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspecting and disabling grounding 64 work-hours x $85 per $83 $5,523 $1,303,428
receptacles. hour = $5,440.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
corrective actions that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspections. The agency has no way of determining the number
of aircraft that might need these actions:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair..................................... 12 work-hours x $85 per hour = $83 $1,103
$1,020.
Replacement................................ 35 work-hours x $85 per hour = 926 3,901
$2,975.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected operators.
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
[[Page 67915]]
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-2024-2021; Project
Identifier AD-2023-01077-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 7, 2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in paragraphs
(c)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(1) Model GVII-G500 airplanes, having serial numbers (S/Ns)
72001 through 72139 inclusive.
(2) Model GVII-G600 airplanes, having S/Ns 73001 through 73144
inclusive.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the electrical
receptacles located on left and right wings of certain Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation Model GVII airplanes. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address cracks and corrosion of the electrical grounding
receptacles. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
fuel leaking from the electrical grounding receptacles.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD, in
accordance with Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089 or
Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No. 058, both dated November
28, 2023, as applicable.
(1) Do borescope inspections for cracking and corrosion of the
interior walls of the grounding receptacle casing and do all
applicable corrective actions before further flight.
(2) Remove the ``GROUND HERE'' decal/stencil from the grounding
receptacles and apply epoxy over the ground receptacle area to
permanently disable the grounding receptacles.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, East Certification 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.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(3) For material that contains steps that are labeled as
Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (h)(3)(i)
and (ii) of this AD 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. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. 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.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Harun Kalin,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park,
GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90a9bdd1c3dfbdd1c4dcd1d3dfbdd1d4e3d0f6f1f1bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="734a5e32203c5e32273f32303c5e323700331512125d141c05">[email protected]</span></a>.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089, dated
November 28, 2023.
(ii) Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No. 058, dated
November 28, 2023.
(3) For Gulfstream material identified in this AD, 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#72020710013215071e1401060017131f5c111d1f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d0d081f0e3d1a08111b0e090f181c10531e1210">[email protected]</span></a>; website <a href="http://gulfstream.com/en/customer-support">gulfstream.com/en/customer-support</a>.
(4) You may view this material 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.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6503174b0c0b16150006110c0a0b250b0417044b020a13"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4224306c2b2c31322721362b2d2c022c2330236c252d34">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on August 8, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-18635 Filed 8-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 22, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.