[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63596-63598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-1006; Product Identifier 2018-NM-142-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 Model Gulfstream G150 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of corrosion in the solder joints 
of the upper and lower front relay box connectors to the printed 
circuit board. This proposed AD would require replacement of the 
existing relay boxes with modified boxes. We are proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 25, 
2019.

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, Mail Station D-25, Savannah, GA 
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 view this 
service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

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-
1006; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226.

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-2018-1006; 
Product Identifier 2018-NM-142-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

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), which is the 
aviation authority for Israel, has issued Israeli Airworthiness 
Directive ISR-I-24-2018-09-7, dated October 1, 2018 (referred to after 
this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G150 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    The existing Upper and Lower Front Relay Box might be prone to 
corrosion in the relay box connector's solder joint to the printed 
circuit board. As a result various CAS [crew alerting system] 
messages such as slats unbalance and auto slats fail, Mach trim 
fail, etc. . . . might be reported [and could interfere with 
continued safe operation of the airplane]. To prevent this condition 
replacement of existing relay boxes with modified boxes featuring an 
added acrylic conformal coating should be performed.
    Five occurrences on G150 model in last 3 years had been 
reported.


[[Page 63597]]


    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
1006.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Gulfstream has issued Service Bulletin 150-24-193, dated March 30, 
2018. This service information describes procedures for removing and 
replacing the upper and lower front relay boxes.
    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

    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 the relevant information and determined the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

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

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
220 work-hours x $85 per hour = $18,700......................         $20,083          $38,783       $3,141,423
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some or all 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 known 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 proposed 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 transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight 
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.

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 LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel 
Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): Docket No. FAA-2018-1006; Product 
Identifier 2018-NM-142-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 25, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate 
previously held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model 
Gulfstream G150 airplanes, certificated in any category, serial 
numbers 201 through 326 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical 
power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion in the solder 
joints of the upper and lower front relay box connectors to the 
printed circuit board. We are issuing this AD to address corrosion 
in the front relay box connector solder joints. If not addressed, 
this condition could cause false crew alerting system (CAS) 
messages, such as slats unbalance, auto slats fail, and Mach trim 
fail, which could interfere with continued safe operation of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

[[Page 63598]]

(g) Replacement

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, remove the 
upper front relay box, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) part number 
(P/N) 25G8130301-510/-512/-514/-516, and replace with IAI P/N 
25G8130301-516, upgraded to MOD A, and remove the lower front relay 
box, IAI P/N 25G8130300-512/-516/-518/-520, and replace with an 
improved lower front relay box, IAI P/N 25G8130300-520, upgraded to 
MOD A, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Gulfstream Service Bulletin 150-24-193, dated March 30, 2018.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph 
(h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD, do not install relay box IAI P/N 
25G8130301-510/-512/-514/-516 or IAI P/N 25G8130300-512/-516/-518/-
520 on any airplane, except relay box IAI P/N 25G8130301-516 or IAI 
P/N 25G8130300-520 that has been upgraded to MOD A as specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD may be installed.
    (1) For airplanes that have IAI P/N 25G8130301-510/-512/-514/-
516 or IAI P/N 25G8130300-512/-516/-518/-520 installed as of the 
effective date of this AD: After modification of the airplane as 
required by this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that do not have IAI P/N 25G8130301-510/-512/-
514/-516 or IAI P/N 25G8130300-512/-516/-518/-520 installed as of 
the effective date of this AD: As of the effective date of this AD.

(i) No Parts Return or Reporting Requirement

    (1) Although Gulfstream Service Bulletin 150-24-193, dated March 
30, 2018, specifies returning parts to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.
    (2) Although Gulfstream Service Bulletin 150-24-193, dated March 
30, 2018, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Section, Transport Standards 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 International Section, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (k)(2) of this AD. 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.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the Civil Aviation 
Authority of Israel (CAAI); or the CAAI's authorized Designee. If 
approved by the CAAI Designee, the approval must include the 
Designee's authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Israeli Airworthiness Directive ISR-I-24-2018-09-7, dated 
October 1, 2018, for related information. This MCAI may be found in 
the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-1006.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 
and fax 206-231-3226.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station D-25, 
Savannah, GA 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 view this 
service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 29, 2018.
James Cashdollar,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26623 Filed 12-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P