03-14523. Airworthiness Directives; Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model 1124 and 1124A Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model 1124 and 1124A series airplanes, that requires revising the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew to don oxygen masks as a first and immediate step following a cabin altitude alert. This action is necessary to prevent incapacitation of the flightcrew due to lack of oxygen. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Effective July 17, 2003.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, PO Box 2206, Mail Station D25, Savannah, Georgia 31402. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model 1124 and 1124A series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2003 (68 FR 14353). That action proposed to require revising the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew to don oxygen masks as a first and immediate step following a cabin altitude alert.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the AD

On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness directives system. The regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. However, for clarity and consistency in this final rule, we have retained the language of the NPRM regarding that material.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 198 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $11,880, or $60 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2003-12-03  Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.: Amendment 39-13188. Docket 2003-NM-01-AD.

Applicability: All Model 1124 and 1124A series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent incapacitation of the flightcrew due to lack of oxygen, accomplish the following:

Revision to Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

(a) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, revise the Emergency Procedures section of the AFM, as specified in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD, as applicable.

(1) For Model 1124 series airplanes: Insert Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. 1124-Westwind Temporary Revision 3, dated January 16, 2001, into the 1124 Westwind AFM.

(2) For Model 1124A series airplanes: Insert Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. 1124A-Westwind Temporary Revision 5, dated January 16, 2001, into the 1124A Westwind AFM.

(b) When the information in the temporary revisions identified in paragraph (a) of this AD has been incorporated into the general revisions of the respective AFM, the general revisions may be incorporated into the AFMs, and these temporary revisions may be removed from the AFM.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Operations Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

Note 1:

Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(e) The actions shall be done in accordance with Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. 1124-Westwind, Airplane Flight Manual, Temporary Revision 3, dated January 16, 2001; or Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. 1124A-Westwind Temporary Revision 5, dated January 16, 2001; as applicable. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, PO Box 2206, Mail Station D25, Savannah, Georgia 31402. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Note 2:

The subject of this AD is addressed in Israeli airworthiness directive 21-02-07-01, dated July 22, 2002.

Effective Date

(f) This amendment becomes effective on July 17, 2003.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 4, 2003.

Ali Bahrami,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.