[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13301-13303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04255]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1253; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00698-T; 
Amendment 39-22349; AD 2023-04-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP 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 all 
Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by a determination that the existing wet runway performance 
tables in the airplane flight manual (AFM) may not provide an 
acceptable level of safety. This AD requires revising the existing AFM 
to incorporate new wet runway performance tables, as specified in a 
Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD, which is incorporated by 
reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 7, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 7, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1253; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For material incorporated by reference in this AD, contact 
CAAI, P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, Airport City, 70100, Israel; 
telephone 972-3-9774665; fax 972-3-9774592; email [email protected]. You 
may find this material on the CAAI website at caa.gov.il.
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1253.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 
Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3225; 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 all Gulfstream 
Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on October 5, 2022 (87 FR 60344). The NPRM was 
prompted by AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9, dated May 1, 2022, issued by the 
Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), which is the aviation 
authority for Israel (CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9) (also referred to as 
the MCAI). The MCAI states that the existing wet runway performance 
tables in the AFM may not provide an acceptable level of safety, and 
that the wet runway performance tables have been updated in the 
Performance section of the G280 AFM, Revision 10.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing AFM 
to incorporate new wet runway performance tables, as specified in CAAI 
AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
existing AFM wet runway performance tables that could allow the 
airplane to experience runway excursions or overruns during takeoff.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1253.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from one individual. The following 
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to 
each comment.

[[Page 13302]]

Request To Produce Digital Version of AFM

    The commenter noted that the FAA should change AFMs to a digital 
format so they can be updated as new ADs are created.
    The FAA issues ADs to address unsafe conditions, including those 
involving the AFM. The question of whether AFMs should be produced in 
another format is beyond the scope of this AD.

Request for Clarification on Adequacy of Performance Tables

    The commenter also remarked that an effort should be made to 
understand why wet runway performance tables do not have an acceptable 
level of safety. The commenter argued that a deficiency such as this 
should have been caught during the aircraft certification process.
    Airplane certification and validation activities provide a baseline 
for safety. However, it is not possible to anticipate all potential 
unsafe conditions on an airplane during the certification process. Once 
the airplane is in service, the FAA issues ADs in accordance with 14 
CFR 39.5 when the agency subsequently finds that an unsafe condition 
exists in the airplane and the condition is likely to exist or develop 
in other airplanes of the same type design. The FAA has not changed 
this AD as a result of this comment.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the 
comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting 
this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial 
changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the 
changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9 specifies procedures for updating the 
Performance section of the G280 AFM to incorporate new wet runway 
tables. This material 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD would affect 195 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
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1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.............................              $0              $85          $16,575
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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

    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:

2023-04-02 Gulfstream Aerospace LP: Amendment 39-22349; Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1253; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00698-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 7, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream 
G280 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34, Navigation.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that the existing wet 
runway performance tables in the airplane flight manual (AFM) may 
not provide an acceptable level of safety. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to address the existing AFM wet runway performance tables that 
could allow the airplane to experience runway excursions or overruns 
during takeoff.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and

[[Page 13303]]

compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, Civil 
Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9, dated May 
1, 2022 (CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9).

(h) Exception to CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9

    Where CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9 refers to its effective date, 
this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 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 Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it 
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this 
AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or CAAI; or CAAI's 
authorized Designee. If approved by the CAAI Designee, the approval 
must include the Designee's authorized signature.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, 
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International 
Validation Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone 206-231-3225; email [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD ISR-I-97-2022-
04-9, dated May 1, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For CAAI AD ISR-I-97-2022-04-9, contact Civil Aviation 
Authority of Israel (CAAI), P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, Airport 
City, 70100, Israel; telephone 972-3-9774665; fax 972-3-9774592; 
email [email protected]. You may find this CAAI AD on the CAAI website 
at caa.gov.il.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material 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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on February 14, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04255 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P