2021-12170. Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during full-scale fatigue testing, a crack was found in the area of the attachment of the wing rib 0 to the front spar. This proposed AD would require non-destructive testing on the forward (front) spar vertical stiffener and rib 0 for any cracking, installation of a doubler to the forward (front) spar and rib 0 attachment, and repair if necessary, as specified in a Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. 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 July 26, 2021.

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 https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• 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.

For material that will be incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, Airport City, 70100, Israel; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; email [e-mail]. You may find this IBR material on the CAAI website at https://www.caa.gov.il. You may view this IBR 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0459.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0459; 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:

Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax [phone]; email [e-mail].

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-2021-0459; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00129-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 the 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 https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

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 Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax [phone]; email [e-mail]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The CAAI, which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01, dated January 27, 2021 (CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes.

This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during full-scale fatigue testing, a crack was found in the area of the attachment of the wing rib 0 to the front spar. The FAA is proposing this AD to address any cracking at the area of the wing rib 0 to the front spar, which could affect the structural integrity of the wing. See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 specifies procedures for non-destructive testing (high frequency, mid frequency, bolt hole eddy current inspections, and a liquid (dye) penetrant inspection) for cracking on the forward (front) spar vertical stiffener and rib 0, installation of a doubler to the forward (front) spar and rib 0 attachment, and repair if necessary. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

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 the State of Design Authority, the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD because the FAA evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and EASA to develop a process to use certain EASA ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since coordinated with other manufacturers and civil aviation authorities (CAAs) to use this process. As a result, CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 will be incorporated by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 in its entirety, through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Service information specified in CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 that is required for compliance with CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 will be available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0459 after the FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
80 work-hours × $85 per hour = $6,800 *	$400	* $7,200	* $165,600
* If the actions are accomplished during 4C Check.

The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost estimates for the repair specified in this proposed AD.

According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected oeprators. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected operators. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs in the cost estimate.

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:

(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

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

Gulfstream Aerospace LP: Docket No. FAA-2021-0459; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00129-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by July 26, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD I-57-2020-06-01, dated January 27, 2021 (CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01).

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by a report that during full-scale fatigue testing, a crack was found in the area of the attachment of the wing rib 0 to the front spar. The FAA is issuing this AD to address any cracking at the area of the wing rib 0 to the front spar, which could affect the structural integrity of the wing.

(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 compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01.

(h) Exceptions to CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01

Where CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 requires compliance “not later than 5,000 flight cycles,” this AD requires compliance before the accumulation of 5,000 total flight cycles since the date of issuance of the original Israeli airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Israeli export certificate of airworthiness.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

Although the service information referenced in CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Other FAA 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 (k)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail]. 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.

(k) Related Information

(1) For CAAI AD I-57-2020-06-01, contact The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), P.O. Box 1101, Golan Street, Airport City, 70100, Israel; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; email [e-mail]. You may find this CAAI AD on the CAAI website at https://www.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. This material may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0459.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax [phone]; email [e-mail].

Issued on June 6, 2021.

Lance T. Gant,

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.