[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65105-65107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25034]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19564; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-103-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Galaxy 
and Gulfstream 200 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 LP Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for 
damage of the flexible supply lines of the pilot and copilot oxygen 
mask boxes, and eventual replacement of the lines with new rigid tubes. 
This proposed AD is prompted by a report of an oxygen leak in the 
cockpit mask box. We are proposing this AD to prevent a broken oxygen 
supply line, which could result in oxygen being unavailable to the 
flightcrew.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 10, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, PO Box 2206, Mail Station D-25, 
Savannah, Georgia 31402.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street

[[Page 65106]]

SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19564; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-103-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Israel, notified us that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Galaxy and 
Gulfstream 200 airplanes. The CAAI advises that several operators have 
reported loss of oxygen system pressure caused by the separation of the 
flexible supply lines of the flightcrew oxygen mask boxes. If this 
condition is not corrected, oxygen could be unavailable to the 
flightcrew.

Relevant Service Information

    Gulfstream has issued Alert Service Bulletin 200-35A-202, Revision 
1, dated August 27, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for:
     Repetitive inspections for damage of the flexible supply 
lines of the pilot and copilot oxygen mask boxes;
     Replacement of any damaged line either with a new or 
serviceable flexible hose that has the same part number, or with a new 
rigid tube; and
     Eventual replacement of the flexible supply lines with new 
rigid tubes, which would eliminate the need for the repetitive 
inspections.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The CAAI mandated 
the service information and issued Israeli airworthiness directive 35-
03-07-12, dated July 21, 2003, to ensure the continued airworthiness of 
these airplanes in Israel.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in Israel and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAAI has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. We have examined the CAAI's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information/Israeli 
Airworthiness Directive

    This proposed AD and the service bulletin specify repetitive 
inspections and eventual replacement of the supply lines. The CAAI, 
however, has mandated only the replacement. We find it necessary to 
require the interim repetitive inspections to ensure the safety of the 
fleet until the replacement can be completed.
    Although the service bulletin specifies completing a service reply 
card, this proposed AD would not require that action.
    The service bulletin specifies a ``visual inspection'' of the 
supply lines. We have determined that this inspection should be 
considered a ``general visual inspection,'' which is defined in Note 1 
of this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

[[Page 65107]]



                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                           Number of  U.S.-
                   Action                      Work hours   Average labor                Parts                 Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                            rate per hour                                      airplane       airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection, per cycle.......................            8             $65  None required...................         $520                 63      $32,760
Replacement.................................           10              65  0...............................          650                 63       40,950
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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 that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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

    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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Formerly Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): 
Docket No. FAA-2004-19564; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-103-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by December 10, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 
airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 004 through 
084 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of an oxygen leak in the 
cockpit mask box. We are issuing this AD to prevent a broken oxygen 
supply line, which could result in oxygen being unavailable to the 
flightcrew.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection

    (f) Within 50 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
perform a general visual inspection for damage of the flexible 
supply lines of the pilot and copilot oxygen mask boxes. Use the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream Alert Service Bulletin 
200-35A-202, Revision 1, dated August 27, 2003, to do the 
inspection. If any damage is found, perform corrective actions 
before further flight in accordance with the service bulletin. All 
replacement parts must be new or serviceable. Repeat the inspection 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight hours until the 
replacement required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been done.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

Replacement

    (g) Within 300 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the flexible supply lines with new rigid tubes, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream Alert 
Service Bulletin 200-35A-202, Revision 1, dated August 27, 2003. 
This replacement terminates the repetitive inspection requirement of 
paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) Israeli airworthiness directive 35-03-07-12, dated July 21, 
2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 1, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25034 Filed 11-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P