[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 138 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38538-38540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15473]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0156; Project Identifier AD-2020-01594-T; 
Amendment 39-21650; AD 2021-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 
airplanes. This AD results from flap yoke fittings with design features 
that cause decreased fatigue life. This AD requires replacing the flap 
inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and establishing a 20,000 
flight cycle life limit for the fittings. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

[[Page 38539]]


DATES: This AD is effective August 26, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 26, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., 
P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402; phone: (800) 810-4853; email: 
[email protected]; website: 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. It is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0156.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0156; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Johnson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 
30337; phone: (404) 474-5554; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2021 (86 FR 24546). The 
NPRM was prompted by a failure that occurred during flight testing of a 
Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplane, when the aircraft was configuring 
for a steep approach test point, the crew received a flap failure 
message. After landing, inspection revealed that the left-hand flap 
track 'B' yoke had become disconnected due to structural failure. 
Gulfstream's investigation to determine the root cause of the failure 
revealed that the flap yoke fittings for certain serial-numbered 
Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplanes have design features that cause 
decreased fatigue life. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 
replacing the flap inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and 
revising the Airworthiness Limitations Instructions of your existing 
aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to incorporate a 20,000 flight cycle 
life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-G500 Aircraft Service Change No. 
032, Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020 (Gulfstream ASC No. 032). 
This service information specifies procedures for replacing the flap 
inboard and outboard yoke fitting assemblies and upper bushings. 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 ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-500 Customer Bulletin No. 045, 
Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020. This service information 
specifies the compliance time and additional information for Gulfstream 
ASC No. 032. The FAA also reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G500 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document Number GAC-AC-GVII-G500-AMM-0001, 
Revision 7, dated December 15, 2020. This document contains revised 
airworthiness limitations, maintenance checks, and inspections.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    Gulfstream ASC No. 032 contains actions labeled ``Required for 
Compliance'' (RC), and the language in Gulfstream ASC No. 032 and in 
paragraph (h)(3) of this AD indicates that operators must comply with 
all actions labeled RC for compliance with this AD. However, this AD 
does not require all of the steps in Gulfstream ASC No. 032 that are 
labeled as RC. Operators only need to comply with the RC steps 
specified in paragraph (g) of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 85 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Replace the flap inboard and outboard   83.5 work-hours x $85.00       $8,015.00      $15,112.50   $1,284,562.50
 yoke fitting assemblies and update      per hour = $7,097.50.
 the existing AMM.
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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.
    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

[[Page 38540]]

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

    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) 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 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:

2021-15-03 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-21650; 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0156; Project Identifier AD-2020-01594-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 26, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-
G500 airplanes, serial numbers 72001 through 72085, certificated in 
any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5753, Trailing Edge 
Flaps.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD results from flap yoke fittings with design features 
that cause decreased fatigue life. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the flap yoke fitting. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the flap yoke fitting 
during flap transition, which could cause the flaps to stop moving. 
This, combined with additional failures in the flap actuator force 
limiter or flap yoke actuator disconnect, could result in asymmetric 
flap positions leading to a loss of airplane control.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD or 
within 500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, replace each flap yoke fitting assembly by 
following Sections III.A.2 through III.D of the Modification 
Instructions in Gulfstream GVII-G500 Aircraft Service Change No. 
032, Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020.
    (2) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the existing Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions 
for Continued Airworthiness or aircraft inspection program for your 
airplane by establishing a life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for 
each flap yoke fitting part number 72P5755095A001, 72P5755096A001, 
72P5755097A001, and 72P5755098A001.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2): Section 05-10-10 of Gulfstream 
Aerospace GVII-G500 Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document Number GAC-
AC-GVII-G500-AMM-0001, Revision 7, dated December 15, 2020, contains 
the life limit in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.

(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 Related Information.
    (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 following provisions 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.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Jeffrey Johnson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Ave., College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5554; 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 GVII-G500 Aircraft Service Change No. 032, 
Initial Issue, dated November 20, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation service information 
identified in this AD, contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, 
Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402; 
phone: (800) 810-4853; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on July 15, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15473 Filed 7-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P