[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25987-25989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6650]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24667; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-009-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Goodyear Aviation Tires, Part Number 
217K22-1, Installed on Various Transport Category Airplanes, Including 
But Not Limited to Bombardier Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 
Airplanes; and Gulfstream Model G-1159, G-1159A, G-1159B, G-IV, GIV-X, 
GV, and GV-SP Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain aviation tires installed on various transport category 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the 
nosewheel tires to determine if they are within a designated serial 
number range, and replacement if necessary. This proposed AD results 
from reports of tread separations and tread-area bulges on the 
nosewheel tires. We are proposing this AD to prevent tread separation 
from a nosewheel tire during takeoff or landing, which could result in 
compromised nosewheel steering or ingestion of separated tread by an 
engine, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane on the 
runway or in the air.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 19, 2006.

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.
     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.
    Contact Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 
123 Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, 
Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206; or Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 1144 
E. Market Street, Akron, OH 44316-0001; as applicable, for service 
information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Miller, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ACE-117C, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des 
Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-7518; fax (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
24667; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-009-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 received 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 
that Web site, 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 may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    We have received reports of tread separations and tread-area bulges 
on certain Goodyear Aviation nosewheel tires that are within a 
designated serial number range. Investigation revealed that the 
nosewheel tires have poor adhesion properties, which could cause tread 
loss during takeoff or landing. This condition, if not corrected, could 
result in compromised nosewheel steering or ingestion of separated 
tread by an engine, and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane on the runway or in the air.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Goodyear Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, 
Revision 5, dated December 22, 2005. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for inspecting the nosewheel tires for the affected serial 
numbers, and for replacing affected tires. Accomplishing the actions 
specified in the service information is intended to adequately address 
the unsafe condition.
    We have also reviewed the following Gulfstream Alert Customer 
Bulletins. These Alert Customer Bulletins, all dated October 12, 2005, 
are additional sources of service information for identifying the 
affected serial numbers and replacing the tires if necessary.

[[Page 25988]]



                   Gulfstream Alert Customer Bulletins
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            Gulfstream model                 Alert customer bulletin
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G-1159 (G-II) and G-1159B (G-IIB)        G-II and G II-B, Number 30.
 series airplanes.
G-1159A (G-III) series airplanes.......  G-III, Number 16.
G-IV (G-IV, G300, G400) series           G-IV, Number 34; G300, Number
 airplanes.                               34; and G400, Number 34.
GIV-X (G350, G450) series airplanes....  G350, Number 3; and G450,
                                          Number 3.
GV series airplanes....................  GV, Number 24.
GV-SP (G550, G500) series airplanes....  G500, Number 5; and G550,
                                          Number 5.
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FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products 
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the Goodyear 
Aviation service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Although the Goodyear Aviation service bulletin specifies a 
compliance time of 14 days for replacing affected tires, this proposed 
AD would require a compliance time of 60 days for doing the 
replacement. Most have complied with the proposed requirements, and the 
majority of the affected tires have been removed from service. 
Therefore, a compliance time of 60 days would ensure that the remainder 
of the tires are removed from service within a time that does not 
compromise safety.
    Although the Goodyear Aviation service bulletin specifies to return 
tires to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not require that 
action.

Explanation of Service Bulletin Revisions

    This proposed AD would give credit to operators for previous 
accomplishment of the original release of Goodyear Aviation Service 
Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, dated October 11, 2005, but not for 
accomplishment of revisions 1 through 4 of the service bulletin. 
Revisions 1 through 4 of the service bulletin were internal to Goodyear 
and were not released to operators.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,282 Gulfstream airplanes and about 104 Bombardier 
airplanes that use the affected tires in the worldwide fleet. This 
proposed AD would affect about 1,035 Gulfstream airplanes, and about 
104 Bombardier airplanes of U.S. registry. The proposed inspection for 
the affected serial numbers would take about 1 work hour per airplane, 
at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, 
the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $91,120, or 
$80 per airplane.

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.
    We are 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

    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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Transport Category Airplanes: Docket No. FAA-2006-24667; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NM-009-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by June 19, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Goodyear Aviation Tires, Part Number 
217K22-1, identified in Goodyear Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-
32-004, Revision 5, dated December 22, 2005; installed on various 
transport category airplanes, certificated in any category, 
including but not limited to Bombardier Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-
700-1A11 airplanes; and Gulfstream Model G-1159, G-1159A, G-1159B, 
G-IV, GIV-X, GV, and GV-SP series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of tread separations and tread-
area bulges on the nosewheel tires. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent tread separation from nosewheel tires during takeoff or 
landing, which could result in compromised nosewheel steering or 
ingestion of separated tread by an engine, and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane on the runway or in the air.

[[Page 25989]]

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 to Determine Serial Number, and Replacement

    (f) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD: Inspect 
the nosewheel tires to determine whether an affected serial number 
(S/N) is installed, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Goodyear Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, 
Revision 5, dated December 22, 2005; and, except as provided by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, replace any tire with an affected S/N 
before further flight in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin.

    Note 1: The Gulfstream Alert Customer Bulletins listed in Table 
1 of this AD are additional sources of service information for 
identifying the affected serial numbers and replacing the tires as 
applicable.


                                  Table 1.--Gulfstream Alert Customer Bulletins
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            Gulfstream model                   Alert customer bulletin                      Date
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G-1159 (GII) and G-1159B (GIIB)series     G-II and G II-B, Number 30......  October 12, 2005.
 airplanes.
G-1159A (GIII) series airplanes.........  G-III, Number 16................  October 12, 2005.
G-IV (G-IV, G300, G400) series airplanes  G-IV, Number 34; G300, Number     October 12, 2005.
                                           34; and G400, Number 34.
GIV-X (G450, G350) series airplanes.....  G350, Number 3; and G450, Number  October 12, 2005.
                                           3.
GV series airplanes.....................  GV, Number 24...................  October 12, 2005.
GV-SP (G550, G500) series airplanes.....  G500, Number 5; and G550, Number  October 12, 2005.
                                           5.
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Special Flight Permit

    (g) A special flight permit may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) for one flight to operate the airplane to a 
location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished, 
provided no bulge is present on the tire with the affected S/N.

Parts Installation

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
on any airplane a nosewheel tire that has an S/N in the affected 
range identified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Goodyear 
Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, Revision 5, dated December 
22, 2005.

No Parts Return

    (i) Although Goodyear Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, 
Revision 5, dated December 22, 2005, specifies to return tires to 
the manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.

Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Original Issue of Service 
Bulletin

    (j) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Goodyear Aviation Service Bulletin SB-2005-32-004, 
dated October 11, 2005, are acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(1) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 26, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6650 Filed 5-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P