[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44359-44361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20051]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; Product Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
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 Corporation Models GIII (G-1159A), G-IV, 
and GIV-X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that 
certain flap tracks were manufactured with the upper flange thickness 
less than design minimum. This proposed AD would require replacing any 
defective flap track. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 6, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 31404-2206; 
telephone: (912) 965-3000; fax: (912) 965-3520; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.gulfstream.com. You may review this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation 
Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-

[[Page 44360]]

0910; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Wissing, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because 
of 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    We received a report from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation that, 
during maintenance while replacing flap tracks on one of the affected 
airplanes, it was discovered that certain flap tracks were manufactured 
with the upper flange thickness less than design minimum and do not 
meet design load margins.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in deformation or 
failure of a flap track that could result in flap actuator failure, ``B 
track'' roller overload, flap twisting/failure, or asymmetrical flap 
track failure. This failure could result in an unrecoverable roll.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream 
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin 
Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017. The applicable model service 
information describes procedures for replacing any discrepant flap 
track C with an airworthy part. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 6 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost         Parts cost        Cost per product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace flap track C...........  99 work-hours x    $10,644 per flap   $19,059 per flap track  $114,354 per flap
                                  $85 per hour =     track C.           C. There may be a       track C.
                                  $8,415 per flap                       flap track C on the
                                  track C.                              left-side and the
                                                                        right-side of the
                                                                        airplane, for a total
                                                                        of 2 per airplane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic 
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and 
Innovation Division.

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.

[[Page 44361]]

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2017-0910; Product 
Identifier 2017-CE-027-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 6, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GIII 
(G-1159A), serial number (S/N) 460; Model G-IV, S/Ns 1129, 1151, 
1167, 1175, 1214, and 1380; and Model GIV-X, S/Ns 4118 and 4227 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks were 
manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design 
minimum. We are issuing this AD to prevent deformation or failure of 
a flap track that could cause flap actuator failure, ``B track'' 
roller overload, flap twisting/failure, or asymmetrical flap track 
failure. This failure could result in an unrecoverable roll.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Replace Flap Track C

    Within the next 6 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the flap track C on the left side, part number (P/N) 
1159WM20052-105, and/or the flap track C on the right side, P/N 
1159WM20052-106, with an airworthy part. Do the replacements 
following Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream 
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, or Gulfstream IV Customer 
Bulletin Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017, as applicable.

(h) Reporting Requirement

    Although Gulfstream III Customer Bulletin Number 187, Gulfstream 
G450 Customer Bulletin Number 195, and Gulfstream IV Customer 
Bulletin Number 240, all dated June 28, 2017, specify to submit 
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require 
that action.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits under 14 CFR 39.23 are allowed with the 
following limitation: Do not extend 39 degrees (FULL) flaps until 
airspeed is at or below 170 knots.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, 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 
manager of the ACO Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (k) of this AD.
    (2) 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.
    (3) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraph (g) of 
this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Ron Wissing, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5552; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 
31404-2206; telephone: (912) 965-3000; fax: (912) 965-3520; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.gulfstream.com. FAA, Policy and 
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 14, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20051 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P