[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65018-65020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22851]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1305; Project Identifier AD-2022-00913-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 all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-
SP airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the omission of a life 
limit in the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance 
manual for a certain main landing gear (MLG) trunnion pin. This AD 
requires revising the ALS of the existing instructions for continued 
airworthiness (ICA) or inspection program for the airplane to establish 
a life limit for the affected MLG trunnion pin. 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 
12, 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

[[Page 65019]]

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-2022-1305; 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: Miral Patel, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5590; 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-2022-1305; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-00913-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 Miral 
Patel, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta 
ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-
474-5590; 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 a life limit for replacing 
MLG trunnion pin part number (P/N) 1159SCL566-17 had been omitted from 
the ALS of the maintenance manual for Models GV and GV-SP airplanes. 
Gulfstream revised the ALS for the applicable airplanes to establish a 
life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. A 
trunnion pin remaining in service beyond its life limit could lead to 
fracture and failure of the trunnion pin. This condition, if 
unaddressed, could result in MLG failure and could lead to a runway 
excursion.

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

    The FAA reviewed Gulfstream GV Aircraft Maintenance Manual, 
Revision 55, dated March 15, 2022; Gulfstream G550 Aircraft Maintenance 
Manual, Revision 36, dated March 15, 2022; and Gulfstream G500-5000 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 36, dated March 15, 2022. The 
service information adds a life limit for MLG trunnion pin P/N 
1159SCL566-17.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing ICA 
or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of 
20,000 flight cycles for MLG trunnion pin P/N 1159SCL566-17.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 582 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost     Cost/airplane     operators
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Revise ALS............................  1 work-hr. x $85 = $85..             N/A             $85         $49,470
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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:

[[Page 65020]]

    (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-2022-1305; Project 
Identifier AD-2022-00913-T.

 (a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 12, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and 
GV-SP airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c): Model GV-SP airplanes are also referred 
to by the marketing designations G500, G550, and G500-5000.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the omission of a life limit in the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) for a certain main landing 
gear (MLG) trunnion pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a MLG 
trunnion pin from remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in MLG failure and 
could lead to a runway excursion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Incorporation of ALS Revisions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
existing ALS of the instructions for continued airworthiness or 
aircraft inspection program for your airplane by establishing a life 
limit of 20,000 flight cycles for each MLG trunnion pin part number 
(P/N) 1159SCL566-17.

    Note 2 to paragraph (g):  The life limit in paragraph (g) of 
this AD is contained in table 5 in Section 05-10-10 of Gulfstream V 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 55, dated March 15, 2022; 
table 4 in Section 05-10-10 of the Gulfstream G500-5000 Aircraft 
Maintenance Manual, Revision 36, dated March 15, 2022; and table 4 
in Section 05-10-10 of the Gulfstream G550 Aircraft Maintenance 
Manual, Revision 36, dated March 15, 2022.

 (h) 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 (i)(1) 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.

 (i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Miral Patel, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO 
Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-
474-5590; email: [email protected].
    (2) For Gulfstream service information identified in this AD 
that is not incorporated by reference, contact Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, 
GA 31402-2206; phone: (800) 810-4853; email: [email protected]; 
website: gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may view this 
service information 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. You may view this service information 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.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 14, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22851 Filed 10-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


