[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72422-72423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25693]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; Project Identifier AD-2022-01026-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 G-1159A, G-1159B and 
all G-IV, and GIV-X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
report that the ground spoiler actuator installation allows improper 
hydraulic line connections that could result in unintended asymmetrical 
spoiler deployment. This proposed AD would require incorporating 
corrective actions that physically prevent improper connection of the 
hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler actuator. 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 January 9, 
2023.

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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; 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, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5580; 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-2022-1486; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-01026-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 
Samuel Belete, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 
phone: 404-474-5580; 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 that a Gulfstream Model G-IV airplane 
was involved in a fatal accident on December 15, 2021 after spoilers 
deployed in an asymmetrical manner. The asymmetrical spoiler deployment 
resulted in in-flight loss of control of the airplane. The fatal flight 
was the first flight after maintenance actions where the spoiler 
hydraulic lines were improperly connected (reversed) to the ground 
spoiler actuator. The ground spoiler actuator configuration allows 
improper hydraulic line connections during maintenance action as a 
result of identically threaded connections in close proximity to each 
other. Improper connection of the ground spoiler hydraulic lines, if 
not addressed, could result in unintended asymmetrical spoiler 
deployment, leading to reduced controllability of the airplane, or loss 
of control of the airplane in-flight or upon landing.

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 incorporating corrective actions 
(includes replacing a ground spoiler actuator hydraulic hose and 
associated fittings) that physically prevent improper connection of the 
hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler actuator.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 550 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 72423]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Incorporating corrective actions        16 work-hours x $85 per             $500          $1,860      $1,023,000
 (includes replacing the hydraulic       hour = $1,360.
 hose to the ground spoiler actuator
 and associated fittings).
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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 airplane 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, Airplane, 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]

    The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2022-1486; Project 
Identifier AD-2022-01026-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by January 9, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this AD, 
certificated in any category.
    (1) Model G-1159A airplanes having S/Ns 385, 387, 388, and 390 
through 498 inclusive.
    (2) Model G-1159B airplanes having S/Ns 009, 016, 042, 048, 054, 
064, 086, 088, 095, 098, 102, 119, 123, 125, 131, 140, 151, 154, 
155, 156, 165, 166, 189, 198, 199, 207, 219, 237, 245, 254, 255, and 
257
    (3) Model G-IV airplanes, all serial numbers.
    (4) Model GIV-X airplanes, all serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that a Gulfstream Model G-IV 
airplane was involved in a fatal accident on December 15, 2021 after 
spoilers deployed in an asymmetrical manner. The asymmetrical 
spoiler deployment resulted in in-flight loss of control of the 
airplane. The fatal flight was the first flight after maintenance 
actions where the spoiler hydraulic lines were improperly connected 
(reversed) to the ground spoiler actuator. The ground spoiler 
actuator configuration allows an incorrect connection of the ground 
spoiler hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
incorrect connection of the hydraulic lines to the ground spoiler 
actuator. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
unintended asymmetrical spoiler deployment leading to reduced 
controllability of the airplane, or loss of control of the airplane 
in-flight or upon landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of 
this AD, incorporate corrective actions (includes replacing a ground 
spoiler actuator hydraulic hose and associated fittings) that 
physically prevent improper connection of the hydraulic lines to the 
ground spoiler actuator, in accordance with a method approved by the 
Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA.
    (1) For Model G-1159A, G-1159B, and G-IV airplanes: Within 18 
months after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For Model GIV-X airplanes: Within 60 months after the 
effective date of this AD.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    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 (i) of this AD.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Samuel Belete, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO 
Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-
474-5580; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on November 16, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-25693 Filed 11-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P