[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48918-48920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21103]



[[Page 48918]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0870; Product Identifier 2018-CE-047-AD; Amendment 
39-19438; AD 2018-20-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVI airplanes. This 
AD requires revising the Normal and Abnormal Procedures sections of the 
airplane flight manual (AFM). This AD was prompted by potential failure 
of the bi-directional data bus that sends and receives critical signals 
between the flight control computer (FCC) and the flight control 
surfaces. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 15, 
2018.
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 13, 2018.

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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; telephone: 800-810-4853; fax: 912-
965-3520; email: [email protected]; internet: http://www.gulfstream.com/product-support/technical-publications. You may view 
this 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. It is 
also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0870.

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-2018-
0870; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 
800-647-5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Jalalian, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Section, AIR-7A3, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5572; fax: 404-
474-5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On Gulfstream Model GVI airplanes, the FCC and the remote 
electronics unit (REU) communicate with each other by means of bi-
directional data buses, referred to as BD429. Gulfstream notified us 
that loss of bi-directional (Transmit/Receive) BD429 communication, due 
to wire/connector failures, between the REU and the FCC would result in 
the display of a cyan ``FCS MAINTENANCE REQUIRED'' advisory message on 
the crew alerting system (CAS). Because this cyan advisory message does 
not directly indicate that BD429 communication has failed, the aircraft 
can be dispatched with this advisory message. The Model GVI system 
depends on the BD429 bus to assure signal transmission to address a 
linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) disconnect monitor and/
or surface oscillatory monitor event.
    During recent developmental testing, Gulfstream discovered that 
certain BD429 failures prevent the shutdown of a flight control surface 
that would normally occur during an oscillatory or LVDT disconnect 
event. The only indication of the failure is a cyan ``FCS MAINTENANCE 
REQUIRED'' advisory message on the CAS.
    If the FCC cannot receive information from the REU that a 
particular flight control surface had an event, then the FCC cannot 
issue a command to place that particular flight control surface into 
standby/damped bypass mode. The REU will still receive flight control 
commands from the FCC via the secondary (receive only) bus; however, 
because the secondary bus is receive-only for certain REUs, the FCC 
will no longer receive REU data needed for the LVDT disconnect monitor 
and/or surface oscillatory monitor for the impacted flight control 
surface.
    This condition (results in a cyan CAS message, but does not 
indicate the exact reason) can remain latent for up to one year. To 
date, there have been no known events or failures of the BD429 
communications bus wiring or connectors in the field. However, the 
Gulfstream GVI fleet has experienced multiple in-flight flight control 
events requiring a standby command sent over the BD429 bus to keep the 
airplane safe. Since the GVI system uses these monitors to mitigate 
potentially unsafe failure modes, dispatch with their loss leaves the 
aircraft one failure away from a potential loss of control event.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in the FCC's 
inability to identify when a problematic flight control surface needs 
to be damped, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace G650 AFM Supplement No. G650-2018-
01, dated August 14, 2018; and Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER AFM 
Supplement No. G650ER-2018-01, dated August 14, 2018. For each 
applicable airplane configuration, the AFM supplement provides 
instructions and warnings to the Normal Procedures and Abnormal 
Procedures section of the AFM for the pilot to follow if a cyan ``FCS 
MAINTENANCE REQUIRED'' CAS message displays with the airplane on the 
ground or in flight. 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 issuing 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.

[[Page 48919]]

AD Requirements

    This AD requires revising the Normal and Abnormal Procedures 
sections of the AFM by adding instructions and warnings for the pilot 
if a cyan ``FCS MAINTENANCE REQUIRED'' CAS message displays with the 
airplane on the ground or in flight.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. Gulfstream is analyzing the 
failures and working to develop a terminating action that will address 
the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this action is 
developed, approved, and available, we might consider additional 
rulemaking.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because the inability of the FCC to send a standby command when the 
BD429 bus is in a failed state could leave the airplane with only one 
level of protection from a catastrophic flight control failure. 
Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reason stated 
above, we find that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or 
arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0870 and Product Identifier 2018-CE-047-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
final rule 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 213 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost             Parts cost           product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise Gulfstream AFM.............  1 work-hour x $85 per  Not applicable.......             $85         $18,105
                                     hour = $85.
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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, gliders, 
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and 
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation 
Division.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2018-20-04 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-19438; 
Docket No. FAA-2018-0870; Product Identifier 2018-CE-047-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 15, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVI 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls.

[[Page 48920]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the potential for an un-annunciated 
failure of the bi-directional data bus that sends critical signals 
from the flight control computer to the flight controls. This unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in the flight control 
computer's inability to identify when a problematic flight control 
surface needs to be damped, which could result in loss of control of 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Airplane Flight Manual Revisions

    Within 30 days after October 15, 2018 (the effective date of 
this AD), revise the Normal Procedures and Abnormal Procedures 
sections of the airplane flight manual by adding the information in 
Gulfstream Aerospace G650 Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. 
G650-2018-01, dated August 14, 2018; or Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER 
Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. G650ER-2018-01, dated August 
14, 2018; as applicable to the model configuration of your airplane.

(h) 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (i) 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.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Myles Jalalian, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, AIR-7A3, Atlanta 
ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 
phone: 404-474-5572; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Gulfstream Aerospace G650 Airplane Flight Manual, Supplement 
No. G650-2018-01, dated August 14, 2018.
    (ii) Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER Airplane Flight Manual, 
Supplement No. G650ER-2018-01, dated August 14, 2018.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; telephone: 800-810-4853; fax: 
912-965-3520; email: [email protected]; internet: http://www.gulfstream.com/product-support/technical-publications.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 20, 2018.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Aircraft Certification Service, Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation 
Division, AIR-601.
[FR Doc. 2018-21103 Filed 9-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P