[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54925-54927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19265]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1055; Project Identifier AD-2022-00573-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII-
G600 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of two landing
incidents in which the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare in
unstable air, resulting in high rate of descent landings and damage to
the airplanes. This proposed AD would require updating the flight
control computer (FCC) software. 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 October 24,
2022.
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 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1055; 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: Myles Jalalian, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5572; 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-2022-1055; Project Identifier
AD-2022-00573-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
this 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
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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 Myles
Jalalian, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA,
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337;
phone: 404-474-5572; email: [email protected]. Any commentary
that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will
be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received a report indicating two landing incidents in
which the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare in unstable air,
resulting in high rate of descent landings and damage to the airplanes.
These incidents occurred on Model GVII-G500 airplanes on February 6,
2020 and April 4, 2022. In both events, the angle of attack (AOA)
protection function (alpha limiter) of the FCC engaged and overrode the
pilot pitch control inputs which the flight control law erroneously
predicted would exceed the stall AOA. This resulted in a high rate of
descent landing on the runway. Additionally, the pilots in both events
had full aft-stick input when the aircraft contacted the runway, and
the full-up pitch control did not arrest the high rate of descent
landing.
Based on analyses and investigations performed by the FAA and
Gulfstream, the root cause of the incidents was determined to be that
the flight control laws did not account for the types of
[[Page 54926]]
control inputs experienced on the February 6, 2020 and April 4, 2022
flights. The FCC incorrectly determined the airplane was about to
exceed the critical AOA, and therefore, the FCC limited the pilot's
ability to input sufficient pitch control to prevent a high rate of
descent landing. This condition, if not addressed, could limit pilot
pitch authority during a critical phase of flight near the ground, and
result in a high rate of descent landing with possible consequent loss
of control of the airplane.
The FAA issued AD 2022-10-05, Amendment 39-22043 (87 FR 27494, May
9, 2022) (AD 2022-10-05), for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Model GVII-G500 and GVII-G600 airplanes. AD 2022-10-05 retains certain
airplane flight manual (AFM) revision requirements, and also adds and
replaces certain AFM sections with more restrictive limitations and
procedures. The agency issued AD 2022-10-05 to address inappropriate
alpha limiter engagement during the landing flare, which can limit
pilot pitch authority during a critical phase of flight near the
ground, and result in a high rate of descent landing with possible
consequent loss of control of the airplane on landing. The FAA
considered the requirements in AD 2022-10-05 an interim action to
address the unsafe condition identified after the two incidents. The
FAA has since determined that an update to the FCC software is also
needed to address the unsafe condition.
Relationship Between This Proposed AD and AD 2022-10-05
This NPRM would not supersede AD 2022-10-05. Rather, the FAA has
determined that a stand-alone AD would be more appropriate to address
the changes in the FCC software. This NPRM would require updating the
FCC software. Accomplishment of the proposed action would then
terminate all of the requirements of AD 2022-10-05 for that airplane
only.
Explanation of the Compliance Time and the Applicability
This proposed AD includes a compliance time that specifies a
calendar date. In determining this compliance time, the FAA conducted a
risk assessment, which indicated that all corrective actions must be
implemented in the affected fleet no later than April 30, 2023 in order
to remain within acceptable risk guidelines.
Additionally, this proposed AD includes an applicability of
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII-G600
airplanes with certain FCC software installed. Only airplanes with this
affected FCC software need to apply the update. All in-service
airplanes currently have this affected FCC software. The affected
software part numbers are identified by the Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation part numbers.
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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require updating the FCC software. This
proposed AD would also terminate all of the requirements of AD 2022-10-
05 for that airplane only.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 120 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
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Software update....................... 6 work-hours x $85 per $0 $510 $61,200
hour = $510.
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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 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2022-1055; Project
Identifier AD-2022-00573-T.
[[Page 54927]]
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 24, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD affects AD 2022-10-05, Amendment 39-22043 (87 FR 27494,
May 9, 2022).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-
G500 and GVII-G600 airplanes, certificated in any category, with
flight control computer (FCC) software revisions installed as
specified in figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP08SE22.011
Note 1 to paragraph (c): The FCC software label, which
identifies the software revision installed, can be found on the face
of the FCC module. The FCC modules are installed within the left and
right electronic equipment racks. The labels may be viewed by
opening the rack doors and removing 4 screws per FCC (8 screws total
per airplane) from the FCC cover.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
controls.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of two landing incidents where
the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare in unstable air while
on the approach and caused high rate of descent landings and damage
to the airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address inappropriate
alpha limiter engagement during the landing flare, which can limit
pilot pitch authority during a critical phase of flight near the
ground, and result in a high rate of descent landing with possible
consequent loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Software Update
No later than April 30, 2023, update the FCC software in
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Atlanta ACO
Branch, FAA.
(h) Terminating Action for AD 2022-10-05
Accomplishing the software update required by paragraph (g) of
this AD on an airplane terminates all requirements of AD 2022-10-05,
for that airplane only.
(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 responsible Flight Standards 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 (j) of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(j) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Myles Jalalian,
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO
Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-
474-5572; email: [email protected].
Issued on August 15, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19265 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P