[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6157-6159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2686]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0034; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-120-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model 
Gulfstream 100 Airplanes, and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. This 
proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to 
identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The 
MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Incomplete closure of the MED 
[main entry door] may be followed by in-flight opening of the door. As 
a result, the MED and the adjacent fuselage structure may be damaged 
during opening and landing impact. Damage to the left engine by flying 
debris and objects may also occur.
    The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address 
the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     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.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For Gulfstream service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station 
D-25, Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; fax 912-
965-3520; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. For 
Honeywell service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Honeywell Aerospace, Technical Publications and Distribution, M/S 2101-
201, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170; telephone 602-365-
5535; fax 602-365-5577; Internet http://www.honeywell.com. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Borfitz, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-2677; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0034; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-120-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We have lengthened the 30-day comment period for proposed ADs that 
address MCAI originated by aviation authorities of other countries to 
provide adequate time for interested parties to submit comments. The 
comment period for these proposed ADs is now typically 45 days, which 
is consistent with the comment period for domestic transport ADs.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On January 23, 2007, we issued AD 2007-03-05, Amendment 39-14916 
(72 FR 4414, January 31, 2007). That AD required actions intended to 
address an unsafe condition on the products listed above.
    Since we issued AD 2007-03-05, the Civil Aviation Administration of 
Israel (CAAI), which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued 
Israeli Airworthiness Directive 31-06-11-05, dated May 27, 2009 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    To increase pilots' awareness to the possibility of incomplete 
closure of the Main Entry Door (MED) by the following means:

[[Page 6158]]

    1. Splitting the common caution light CABIN DOOR signaling both 
MED Improper Closure and MED Inflatable Seal Failure into two 
separate lights: CABIN DOOR and CABIN DOOR SEAL.
    2. Converting the separated CABIN DOOR Caution light into a 
Warning light by changing its color to red.
    Note: Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM'S) refer to these changes as 
MOD G1-20052.
    Incomplete closure of the MED may be followed by in-flight 
opening of the door. As a result, the MED and the adjacent fuselage 
structure may be damaged during opening and landing impact.

    Damage to the left engine by flying debris and objects may also 
occur. Required actions include modifying the warning and caution 
lights panel (WACLP), changing the WACLP and MED wiring, changing the 
wiring harness connecting the MED to the WACLP, and ensuring the Log of 
Modification of the AFM includes reference to MOD G1-20052. You may 
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Gulfstream has issued Service Bulletin 100-31-284, dated August 17, 
2006. Honeywell has issued Service Bulletin 80-0548-31-0002, dated 
March 1, 2006; Service Bulletin 80-5090-31-0001, dated March 1, 2006; 
and Service Bulletin 80-0548-31-0001, dated April 1, 2006. The actions 
described in this service information are intended to correct the 
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a Note within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 120 products of U.S. registry.
    The actions that are required by AD 2007-03-05 and retained in this 
proposed AD take about 1 work-hour per product, at an average labor 
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the currently required actions is $80 per product.
    We estimate that it would take about 60 additional work-hours per 
product to comply with the new basic requirements of this proposed AD. 
Required parts would cost about $600 per product. The average labor 
rate is $80 per work-hour. Where the service information lists required 
parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there 
will be no charge for these costs. As we do not control warranty 
coverage for affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than 
estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $648,000, or $5,400 per product.

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 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. 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.

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

    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 removing Amendment 39-14916 (72 FR 
4414, January 31, 2007) and adding the following new AD:

Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Formerly Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0034; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-120-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by March 25, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) The proposed AD supersedes AD 2007-03-05, Amendment 39-
14916.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream 
100 airplanes; and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra 
airplanes; certificated in any category; all serial numbers.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 31: 
Instruments.

[[Page 6159]]

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    To increase pilots' awareness to the possibility of incomplete 
closure of the Main Entry Door (MED) by the following means:
    1. Splitting the common caution light CABIN DOOR signaling both 
MED Improper Closure and MED Inflatable Seal Failure into two 
separate lights: CABIN DOOR and CABIN DOOR SEAL.
    2. Converting the separated CABIN DOOR Caution light into a 
Warning light by changing its color to red.
    NOTE: Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM'S) refer to these changes as 
MOD G1-20052.
    Incomplete closure of the MED may be followed by in-flight 
opening of the door. As a result, the MED and the adjacent fuselage 
structure may be damaged during opening and landing impact.
    Damage to the left engine by flying debris and objects may also 
occur.
    Required actions include modifying the warning and caution 
lights panel (WACLP), changing the WACLP and MED wiring, changing 
the wiring harness connecting the MED to the WACLP, and ensuring the 
Log of Modification of the AFM includes reference to MOD G1-20052.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2007-03-05, With No Changes:

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions. Within 10 
days after February 15, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-03-05), 
amend Section IV, Normal Procedures, of the following Gulfstream 
airplane flight manuals (AFMs): Model 1125 Astra, 25W-1001-1; Model 
Astra SPX, SPX-1001-1; and Model G100, G100-1001-1; as applicable; 
to include the following statement. Insertion of copies of this AD 
at the appropriate places of the AFMs is acceptable.
    ``1. BEFORE ENGINE START:
    (PRE and POST Mod 20052/Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284):
    CABIN DOOR--CLOSED (Physically verify door latch handle pin is 
fully engaged in the handle lock)
    2. BEFORE TAXIING:
    Change the CABIN DOOR procedure as follows (POST Mod 20052/
Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284):
    Check CABIN DOOR light--OUT
    3. BEFORE TAKE-OFF:
    Insert between the POSITION lights switch and the THRUST LEVERS 
procedures:
    (PRE Mod 20052/Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284):
    Check CABIN DOOR light--OUT (50% N1 may be required)
    (POST Mod 20052/Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284):
    Check CABIN DOOR light--OUT
    CABIN DOOR SEAL light--OUT (50% N1 may be required)''

    Note 1:  Mod 20052 is equivalent to Gulfstream Service Bulletin 
100-31-284, dated August 17, 2006.


    Note 2:  This AD may be accomplished by a holder of a Private 
Pilot's License.

New Requirements of This AD

Actions and Compliance

    (g) Unless already done, for all airplanes except airplane 
serial number 158, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 250 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Modify the WACLP in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of the applicable service bulletin identified in Table 1 of this AD.

                Table 1--Modification Service Information
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       Honeywell Service Bulletin--                    Dated--
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80-0548[dash]31[dash]0001.................  April 1, 2006.
80-0548-31-0002...........................  March 1, 2006.
80-5090-31-0001...........................  March 1, 2006.
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    (2) Within 250 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Change the WACLP and MED wiring in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-
284, dated August 17, 2006.
    (3) Within 250 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Change the wiring harness connecting the MED to the WACLP in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream 
Service Bulletin 100-31-284, dated August 17, 2006.
    (4) Within 250 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: 
Verify that the Log of Modification of the relevant airplane flight 
manual (AFM) includes reference to MOD G1-20052, and, if no 
reference is found, revise the Log of Modification of the AFM to 
include reference to the modification.
    (5) Doing the modifications in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), 
(g)(3), and (g)(4) of this AD terminates the requirements of 
paragraph (f) of this AD, and after the modifications have been 
done, the AFM limitation required by paragraph (f) of this AD may be 
removed from the AFM.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 3: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: Paragraph (g)(5) of this AD mandates a terminating 
action. However, Israeli AD 31-06-11-05, dated May 27, 2009, does 
not explicitly mandate a terminating action. This difference has 
been coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Mike 
Borfitz, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2677; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (i) Refer to MCAI Israeli Airworthiness Directive 31-06-11-05, 
dated May 27, 2009, and the service information identified in Table 
2 of this AD for related information.

                      Table 2--Service Information
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            Service Information                         Date
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Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284....  August 17, 2006.
Honeywell Service Bulletin 80-0548-31-0001  April 1, 2006.
Honeywell Service Bulletin 80-0548-31-0002  March 1, 2006.
Honeywell Service Bulletin 80-5090-31-0001  March 1, 2006.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 28, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2686 Filed 2-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P