[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10378-10380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3853]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 10378]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-357-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Model G-V Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Gulfstream Model G-V 
series airplanes. This proposal would require repetitively replacing 
the existing nose wheel steering actuator with a new or reworked 
actuator having the same part number. This action is necessary to 
prevent loss of nose wheel steering control without a corresponding 
alert message annunciation due to the effects of moisture intrusion 
into the rotary variable displacement transducer (RVDT) inside the 
steering actuator, and consequently, an over steering condition. If an 
over steering condition were to occur during landing, the airplane 
could depart the runway. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-357-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-357-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, M/S D-
10, Savannah, Georgia 31402-9980. This information may be examined at 
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One 
Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Mokry, Systems Engineer, Systems 
and Flight Test Branch, ACE-116A, 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

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-357-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-NM-357-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received several reports of oscillations and/or over 
steering of the nose wheel steering system without a ``STEER BY WIRE 
FAIL'' message being annunciated. All but one of these events occurred 
during landing on certain Gulfstream Model G-V series airplanes. None 
of these airplanes left the runway, but some have experienced minor 
nose wheel tire damage. An investigation revealed that the cause of 
these events was moisture intrusion into the rotary variable 
displacement transducer (RVDT) inside the steering actuator. The pedal 
steering and hand tiller use the RVDT to determine the position of the 
nose wheel. At cold temperatures, the moisture can freeze and cause the 
RVDT feedback shaft to bind. This binding causes nose wheel position 
data errors of 10 to 12 degrees to be transmitted to the tiller, which 
could result in oversteering of the airplane.
    Loss of nose wheel steering control (i.e., unresponsive steering or 
uncommanded oscillations) without a corresponding ``STEER BY WIRE 
FAIL'' message annunciation could result in an over steering condition. 
If an over steering condition were to occur during landing (i.e., high 
speed conditions), the airplane could depart the runway.

Actions Since Reported Incidents

    The manufacturer has advised the FAA that all operators, worldwide, 
of the subject Gulfstream Model G-V series airplanes, serial numbers 
501 through

[[Page 10379]]

605 inclusive, have replaced all nose wheel steering actuators, part 
number (P/N) 1159SCL500-41, with new or restored actuators, P/N 
1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, per Gulfstream Alert Customer Bulletin 9A, dated 
September 25, 2000. The upgraded steering actuator, P/N 1159SCL500-41 
Rev. D, is one that has been sealed with an improved sealing procedure. 
The manufacturer also has advised the FAA that it currently is 
developing a redesigned steering actuator, which prevents moisture 
intrusion and incorporates an improved spring design to prevent the 
RVDT shaft from binding.
    Therefore, until this redesigned steering actuator is developed, 
approved, and available, the FAA has determined that the steering 
actuator, P/N 1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, needs to be replaced with an 
actuator having the same P/N every 450 flight hours or 12 months, 
whichever occurs first, to address the identified unsafe condition. The 
FAA also has determined that, in addition to airplanes having serial 
numbers 501 through 605 inclusive, airplanes having serial numbers 
subsequent to 605 (in production airplanes) will be equipped with 
steering actuator, P/N 1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, and therefore, should be 
subject to the requirement of the proposed AD.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require repetitively replacing the nose wheel 
steering actuator, P/N 1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, with a new or reworked 
actuator having the same part number. The repetitive replacement would 
be required to be accomplished per the Gulfstream Maintenance Manual.

Interim Action

    This is considered to be interim action until final action is 
identified, at which time the FAA may consider further rulemaking.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 94 Model G-V series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 89 
airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that 
it would take approximately 6 work hours per airplane to accomplish the 
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost approximately $15,000 per airplane. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $1,367,040, or $15,360 per airplane, per replacement.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the 
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket 2000-NM-357-AD.

    Applicability: Model G-V series airplanes, serial numbers 501 
and subsequent, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of nose wheel steering control, without a 
corresponding alert message annunciation, due to the effects of 
moisture intrusion into the rotary variable displacement transducer 
(RVDT) inside the steering actuator, which could result in the 
airplane departing the runway if an over steering condition were to 
occur during landing, accomplish the following:

Repetitive Replacement

    (a) Replace the nose wheel steering actuator, part number (P/N) 
1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, with a new or restored actuator having the 
same part number, per Gulfstream V Maintenance Manual Chapter 05-10-
00, dated September 15, 2000; at the later of the times specified in 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD. Repeat this replacement 
thereafter every 450 flight hours or 12 months, whichever occurs 
first.
    (1) Within 450 flight hours or 12 months after replacing the 
nose wheel steering actuator, P/N 1159SCL500-41 Rev. D, with a new 
or restored actuator having the same part number, whichever occurs 
first.
    (2) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

Special Flight Permit

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199

[[Page 10380]]

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to 
operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD 
can be accomplished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 9, 2001.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-3853 Filed 2-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U