[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45345-45347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16211]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 28, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 45345]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0713 Product Identifier 2019-CE-061-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVII-G500 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fuel quantity disparity 
between the overhead panel touch screens and the touch screen 
controllers. This proposed AD would require incorporating operating 
limitations into the airplane flight manual (AFM) until the fuel 
quantity management system (FQMS) software is updated. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 
11, 2020.

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 https://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, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206, telephone: 800-810-GULF (4853), 
email: [email protected], internet: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, MO 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0713; 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, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Meyer, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354; 
phone: 404-474-5534; fax: 404-474-5605; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0713; 
Product Identifier 2019-CE-041-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Jared Meyer, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO 
Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    The FAA was alerted by the manufacturer that certain Model GVII-
G500 airplanes have exhibited a disparity between the fuel quantities 
displayed on the overhead panel touch screens and the fuel quantities 
displayed on the touch screen controllers. Investigation revealed two 
known failure conditions that the Model GVII-G500 FQMS does not 
properly detect and report to the crew. These failure conditions are 
fuel quantity probe drift and an FQMS over-current condition, which 
could result in erroneous and misleading fuel quantity indications, and 
could also result in erroneous and misleading fuel imbalance 
indications. These conditions could cause a false annunciation of a 
fuel imbalance, a failure to annunciate an actual fuel imbalance, and a 
condition where the actual fuel quantity is less than or greater than 
the indicated fuel quantity. The FQMS software logic does not properly 
detect or compensate for these failure conditions.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in fuel starvation 
during flight, performance impacts of the airplane having more fuel 
than

[[Page 45346]]

indicated, and a roll moment due to a fuel imbalance.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Aircraft Service 
Change (ASC) No. 025, Revision A, dated October 16, 2019; and GVII-G500 
Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. GVII-G500-2019-05, Revision 2, 
dated October 1, 2019. The service information updates the fuel 
quantity signal conditioner software to version 10003-42130-01-19.03, 
which resolves a known issue with potential erroneous fuel quantity 
readings and requires incorporating operating limitations into the 
airplane flight manual (AFM) until the fuel quantity management system 
(FQMS) software is updated. The AFM Supplement includes revisions to 
the airplane operating limitations. 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

    The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type 
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

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

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 39 airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost              Parts cost          product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software update..................  26 work-hours x $85 per   Not applicable.....          $2,210         $86,190
                                    hour = $2,210.
Airplane flight manual revision..  1 work-hour x $85 per     Not applicable.....              85           3,315
                                    hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for 
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in 
this 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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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-2020-0713; Product 
Identifier 2019-CE-061-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by September 11, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-
G500 airplanes, serial numbers 72001 through 72049, certificated in 
any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code: 2840, Fuel Indicating System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a fuel quantity disparity between the 
overhead panel touch screens and the touch screen controllers, which 
could result in inaccurate fuel indications. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to ensure a software update occurs correcting fuel quantity 
monitoring system software logic to compensate for a failed fuel 
quantity measuring sensor. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in fuel starvation during flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Actions

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the airplane flight manual for your airplane by incorporating the 
operating limitations in Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G500 Airplane 
Flight Manual Supplement No. GVII-G500-2019-05, Revision 2, dated 
October 1, 2019.
    (2) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, update 
the Fuel Quantity Signal Conditioner software to version

[[Page 45347]]

10003-42130-01-19.03 and perform an operational test in accordance 
with the Modification Instructions in Gulfstream GVII-G500 Aircraft 
Service Change No. 025, Revision A, dated October 16, 2019, except 
you are not required to report information to the manufacturer.
    (3) The operating limitations required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD, if installed, may be removed after completing the software 
update required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    If you updated the Fuel Quantity Signal Conditioner software 
before the effective date of this AD using Gulfstream GVII-G500 
Aircraft Service Change No. 025, dated July 19, 2019, you met the 
requirements of this AD.

(i) 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 the Related Information section 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jared Meyer, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant 
Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354; phone: 404-474-5534; fax: 404-474-5605; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402, telephone: 800-810-4853, email: 
[email protected], internet: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 901 Locust St., Kansas City, MO 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
816-329-4148.

    Issued on July 22, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16211 Filed 7-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P