[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59062-59065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23013]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0881; Project Identifier AD-2020-01062-T]
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: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2020-12-06, which applies to all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
(Gulfstream) Model G-IV airplanes. AD 2020-12-06 requires replacing the 
nose wheel steering servo valve manifold, incorporating revised 
operating procedures into the airplane flight manual (AFM), doing a 
records inspection for any incidents of un-commanded nose wheel 
steering turns, and reporting the results to the FAA. Since the FAA 
issued AD 2020-12-06, the FAA determined that a typographical error was 
made in a citing one of the AFM documents. This proposed AD would 
retain the actions of AD 2020-12-06 and would correct the citation to 
the AFM. 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 December 
10, 2021.

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, 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,

[[Page 59063]]

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0881; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Belete, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5580; fax: 
(404) 474-5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0881; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-01062-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal 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 received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

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 
Samuel Belete, Aviation Safety Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, 
FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. 
Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically 
designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this 
rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2020-12-06, Amendment 39-21141 (85 FR 36143, June 
15, 2020) (AD 2020-12-06), for all Gulfstream Model G-IV airplanes. AD 
2020-12-06 was prompted by reports of un-commanded nose wheel steering 
turns. AD 2020-12-06 requires replacing the nose wheel steering servo 
valve manifold, incorporating revised operating procedures into the 
AFM, doing a records inspection for any incidents of un-commanded nose 
wheel steering turns, and reporting the results to the FAA. The agency 
issued AD 2020-12-06 to prevent moisture from entering the nose 
steering wheel servo valve, which could freeze and cause an un-
commanded nose wheel steering position during touchdown.

Actions Since AD 2020-12-06 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-12-06, a typographical error was found 
in the title of the AFM required by paragraph (g)(3) of AD 2020-12-06. 
The paragraph incorrectly references the document number as ``FAC-AC-
G400-OPS-0001'' instead of ``GAC-AC-G400-OPS-0001.''

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    This proposed AD would require Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin 
Number 244, dated March 12, 2018; Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin 
244, dated March 12, 2018; Gulfstream G400 Customer Bulletin 244, dated 
March 12, 2018; Gulfstream IV Airplane Flight Manual, Gulfstream 
Aerospace Document Number GAC-AC-GIV-OPS-0001, Revision 52, dated 
October 30, 2017; Gulfstream G300 Airplane Flight Manual, Gulfstream 
Aerospace Document Number GAC-AC-G300-OPS-0001, Revision 20, dated 
October 30, 2017; and Gulfstream G400 Airplane Flight Manual, 
Gulfstream Aerospace Document Number GAC-AC-G400-OPS-0001, Revision 20, 
dated October 30, 2017; which the Director of the Federal Register 
approved for incorporation by reference as of July 20, 2020 (85 FR 
36143, June 15, 2020).
    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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain most of the requirements of AD 2020-
12-06. This proposed AD would require revising the AFM (with the 
correct title of the AFM document for G400 airplanes) and replacing the 
nose wheel steering servo valve manifold. This proposed AD would also 
require doing a records inspection for any incidents of un-commanded 
nose wheel steering turns and reporting all recorded occurrences of un-
commanded nose wheel steering turns to the FAA.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The Gulfstream customer bulletins require reporting compliance with 
the bulletins to Gulfstream. This proposed AD does not contain that 
requirement; however, this proposed AD would require reporting any 
known occurrences of un-commanded nose wheel steering turns to the FAA.
    The Gulfstream customer bulletins include a compliance time of 48 
months beginning on March 12, 2018. The compliance time for this 
proposed AD is 36 months after July 20, 2020 (the effective date of AD 
2020-12-06).

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 425 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 59064]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporate AFM revision..............  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $36,125
                                         hour = $85.
Replace nose wheel steering servo       7 work-hours x $85 per            63,624          64,219      27,293,075
 valve.                                  hour = $595.
Review records........................  1 work-hour x $85 per                  0              85          36,125
                                         hour = $85.
Report results........................  1 work hour x $85 per                  0              85          36,125
                                         hour = $85.
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    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2020-12-06, Amendment 39-21141 (85 
FR 36143, June 15, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2021-0881; Project 
Identifier AD-2020-01062-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 10, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-12-06, Amendment 39-21141 (85 FR 36143, 
June 15, 2020) (AD 2020-12-06).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-
IV airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of un-commanded nose wheel 
steering turns. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent moisture from 
entering the nose steering wheel servo valve, which could freeze and 
cause an un-commanded nose wheel steering position during touchdown. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in a lateral 
runway departure.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Airplane Flight Manual Revisions for Certain Airplanes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) and 
(2) of AD 2020-12-06. Within 30 days after July 20, 2020 (the 
effective date of AD2020-12-06), revise your airplane flight manual 
(AFM) by incorporating the revision applicable to your airplane 
configuration as listed in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD:
    (1) Gulfstream IV Airplane Flight Manual, Gulfstream Aerospace 
Document Number GAC-AC-GIV-OPS-0001, Revision 52, dated October 30, 
2017; or
    (2) Gulfstream G300 Airplane Flight Manual, Gulfstream Aerospace 
Document Number GAC-AC-G300-OPS-0001, Revision 20, dated October 30, 
2017.

(h) Correction to AFM Revision for Certain Airplanes

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise your 
AFM by incorporating Gulfstream G400 Airplane Flight Manual, 
Gulfstream Aerospace Document Number GAC-AC-G400-OPS-0001, Revision 
20, dated October 30, 2017, if applicable to your airplane 
configuration.

[[Page 59065]]

(i) Retained Replacement of Nose Wheel Steering Servo Valve Manifold 
With No Changes

    The paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 
2020-12-06 with no changes. Within 36 months after July 20, 2020 
(the effective date of AD2020-12-06), replace the nose wheel 
steering servo valve manifold with nose wheel steering servo valve 
manifold part number 5100-11 or 5105-5 in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the customer bulletin that applies to 
your airplane configuration as listed in paragraphs (i)(1) through 
(3) of this AD, except you are not required to comply with step H:
    (1) Gulfstream IV Customer Bulletin Number 244, dated March 12, 
2018;
    (2) Gulfstream G300 Customer Bulletin 244, dated March 12, 2018; 
or
    (3) Gulfstream G400 Customer Bulletin 244, dated March 12, 2018.

(j) Retained Records Inspection and Report of Results with No Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD 
2020-12-06 with no changes.
    (1) Between 12 months and 24 months after the replacement of the 
nose wheel steering valve manifold assembly required in paragraph 
(i) of this AD, inspect all aircraft records for entries of an un-
commanded nose wheel steering turn.
    (2) Within 10 days after the records inspection required in 
paragraph (j)(1) of this AD, report the results of the inspection, 
regardless of whether the inspection found any entries, to the FAA 
by either email: [email protected]; or by mail: Attn: 
Continued Operational Safety, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. The report must include as much of 
the information listed in paragraphs (j)(2)(i) through (vii) of this 
AD as is known about the event:
    (i) Date of records inspection;
    (ii) Date and time of all un-commanded occurrences (if any);
    (iii) Airplane serial number;
    (iv) Weather and runway conditions at the time of each 
occurrence;
    (v) Copy of the pilot's report of the occurrence (if available);
    (vi) Maintenance entry of the root cause of the un-commanded 
deflection (if available); and
    (vii) Any other information pertinent to the occurrence.

(k) 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 (l)(1) 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.

(l) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Samuel Belete, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 
phone: (404) 474-5580; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation, 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 
referenced 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.

    Issued on October 13, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-23013 Filed 10-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P