[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32069-32071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13194]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0495; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-236-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) 
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 
certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate previously held by 
Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of degraded brake 
performance during landing due to improperly-sized wear indicating 
pins. This proposed AD would require determining the lengths of the 
wear indicating pins of all brake assemblies, shortening the pin if the 
wear indicating pin is too long, inspecting for normal brake wear, and 
replacing brakes with new brakes if necessary. We are proposing this AD 
to detect and correct improperly-sized wear indicating pins, which, if 
not corrected, could result in worn-out brake pads and subsequent loss 
of braking power, which could result in runway overruns.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 16, 2012.

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 W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., 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, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station D-25, 
Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; fax 912-965-3520; 
email [email protected]; Internet http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. 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.

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: Tom Groves, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,

[[Page 32070]]

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone: (425) 
227-1503; 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-2012-0495; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-236-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 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

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), which is the 
aviation authority for Israel, has issued Israeli Airworthiness 
Directive 32-11-10-13, dated October 31, 2011 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Two G200 operators experienced degraded brake performance during 
landing. Subsequent investigation revealed that in both cases the 
brake wear pins showed remaining life, but the brakes were worn to 
the minimum pad thickness specified in the Brake Assembly Component 
Maintenance Manual (CMM). It was found out that pins of incorrect 
length were installed during brake assembly overhaul. When the brake 
pads are fully worn without indication, loss of braking power is 
expected, possibly causing runway overruns. This constitutes an 
unsafe condition.

The required action is determining the lengths of the wear indicating 
pins of all brake assemblies, shortening the pin if the wear indicating 
pin is too long, inspecting for normal brake wear, and replacing brakes 
with new brakes if necessary. You may obtain further information by 
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Gulfstream Aerospace LP has issued Service Bulletin 200-32-389, 
Revision 1, dated October 27, 2011. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 155 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 16 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $0 per product. Where the 
service information lists required parts costs that are covered under 
warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these parts. 
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 $210,800, or $1,360 per product.
    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed 
AD.

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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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 adding the following new AD:

Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate previously held by Israel 
Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): Docket No. FAA-2012-0495; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-NM-236-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 16, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate 
previously held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Galaxy 
and Gulfstream 200 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial 
numbers 004 through 250 inclusive.

[[Page 32071]]

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of degraded brake performance 
during landing due to improperly-sized wear indicating pins. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct improperly-sized wear 
indicating pins, which, if not corrected, could result in worn-out 
brake pads and subsequent loss of braking power, which could result 
in runway overruns.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Determining and Correcting Pin Length and Inspecting Brake Wear

    Within 40 days after the effective date of this AD, determine 
the length of the wear indicating pins of all the brake assemblies, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream 
Service Bulletin 200-32-389, Revision 1, dated October 27, 2011.
    (1) If the length of the pins is within the limits specified in 
Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-389, Revision 1, dated October 
27, 2011, before further flight, perform a normal brake wear 
inspection in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-389, Revision 1, dated October 
27, 2011.
    (2) If any wear indicating pin is too long, as specified by the 
limits in Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-389, Revision 1, dated 
October 27, 2011, before further flight, shorten the pin and perform 
a normal brake wear inspection, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-
389, Revision 1, dated October 27, 2011.

(h) Brake Replacement

    If any brake fails the wear inspection required by paragraphs 
(g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, before further flight, replace the 
affected brakes with new brakes, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-
389, Revision 1, dated October 27, 2011.

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-389, dated October 20, 2011.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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. In accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom Groves, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1503; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Israeli Airworthiness Directive 32-11-10-13, dated 
October 31, 2011; and Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-32-389, 
Revision 1, dated October 27, 2011; for related information.
    (2) For service information identified in this 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; email [email protected]; Internet http://www.gulfstream.com/product_support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 18, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13194 Filed 5-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P