[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67913-67915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18635]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2021; Project Identifier AD-2023-01077-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 a report of cracking 
in the electrical grounding receptacles located on the left and right 
wings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the electrical 
grounding receptacles for cracks and corrosion, performing applicable 
on-condition actions, and sealing over the grounding receptacles on the 
top of the wings to permanently disable the receptacle. 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 7, 
2024.

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-2024-2021; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:  For Gulfstream 
material identified in this AD, contact Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 
31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; email [email protected]; website 
gulfstream.com/en/customer-support.
     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 at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harun Kalin, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576; 
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-2024-2021; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-01077-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

[[Page 67914]]

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 Harun Kalin, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576; 
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 of cracks found in the electrical 
grounding receptacles located on the left and right wings of certain 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII airplanes. Further 
investigation revealed that the cracks were initiated by the collection 
of water in the electrical grounding receptacle leading to corrosion 
and mechanical stresses from water freeze and thaw cycles. Water can 
leak through the o-ring/pin interface of the grounding receptacle and 
fill the housing over time. The subsequent freeze and thaw cycles of 
the entrapped water over multiple flights resulted in cracking and 
failures within the receptacle, which can be exacerbated by corrosion. 
Fuel vapors can escape through a cracked receptacle during over-wing 
fueling operations. When the ground crew attempts to connect equipment 
to grounding receptacle a spark from refueling equipment could ignite 
flammable fuel mixture in the fuel tank. Fuel leaking from the 
electrical grounding receptacles could result in a potential source of 
ignition in a fuel tank and consequent fire or explosion.

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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089, 
dated November 28, 2023; and Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No. 
058, dated November 28, 2023. This material specifies procedures for 
the following actions:
     Borescope inspections for cracking and corrosion of the 
interior walls of the grounding receptacle casing.
     Measurement of the inner diameter of the grounding 
receptacle if any Level 1 corrosion is found.
     Repair including cleaning and application of chemical 
conversion coating if any Level 1 corrosion within the specified 
tolerance (inner diameter) is found.
     Replacement of the grounding receptacle assembly if any 
crack, any Level 2 or Level 3 corrosion, or any level 1 corrosion 
outside of the specified tolerance is found.
     Removal of the ``GROUND HERE'' decal/stencil from the 
grounding receptacles, and application of epoxy over the ground 
receptacle area to permanently disable the receptacles.
    These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane 
models.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the material already described, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this 
material at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2024-2021.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 236 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
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Inspecting and disabling grounding  64 work-hours x $85 per               $83           $5,523       $1,303,428
 receptacles.                        hour = $5,440.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
corrective actions that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspections. The agency has no way of determining the number 
of aircraft that might need these actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair.....................................  12 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  $83          $1,103
                                              $1,020.
Replacement................................  35 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  926           3,901
                                              $2,975.
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    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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

[[Page 67915]]

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-2024-2021; Project 
Identifier AD-2023-01077-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 7, 2024.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 
airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in paragraphs 
(c)(1) and (2) of this AD.
    (1) Model GVII-G500 airplanes, having serial numbers (S/Ns) 
72001 through 72139 inclusive.
    (2) Model GVII-G600 airplanes, having S/Ns 73001 through 73144 
inclusive.

 (d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the electrical 
receptacles located on left and right wings of certain Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation Model GVII airplanes. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to address cracks and corrosion of the electrical grounding 
receptacles. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
fuel leaking from the electrical grounding receptacles.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Required Actions

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD, in 
accordance with Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089 or 
Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No. 058, both dated November 
28, 2023, as applicable.
    (1) Do borescope inspections for cracking and corrosion of the 
interior walls of the grounding receptacle casing and do all 
applicable corrective actions before further flight.
    (2) Remove the ``GROUND HERE'' decal/stencil from the grounding 
receptacles and apply epoxy over the ground receptacle area to 
permanently disable the grounding receptacles.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, East Certification 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.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (3) For material that contains steps that are labeled as 
Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (h)(3)(i) 
and (ii) of this AD 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. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the 
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. 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 Harun Kalin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, 
GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5576; email: [email protected].

 (j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Gulfstream GVII-G500 Customer Bulletin No. 089, dated 
November 28, 2023.
    (ii) Gulfstream GVII-G600 Customer Bulletin No. 058, dated 
November 28, 2023.
    (3) For Gulfstream material identified in this AD, contact 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. 
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206; telephone 800-810-4853; email 
[email protected]; website gulfstream.com/en/customer-support.
    (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 at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on August 8, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-18635 Filed 8-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P