[Federal Register: September 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 185)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 56143-56145]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se05-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22511; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-120-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model
Gulfstream 100 Airplanes; and Model Astra SPX, and 1125 Westwind Astra
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (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 LP Model Gulfstream 100 airplanes; and
Model Astra SPX, and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes. This proposed AD
would require a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the nose wheel
steering assembly of the landing gear, installing a warning placard on
each nose landing gear door, and corrective action if necessary. This
proposed AD is prompted by reports of failure of the steering brackets
of the nose wheel steering assembly, and in one incident, loss of
steering control. We are proposing this AD to find and fix these
discrepancies, which could result in loss of steering control and
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 26,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
[[Page 56144]]
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
By fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station D-25,
Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401,
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket
number is FAA-2005-22511; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2005-NM-120-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Borfitz, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2677; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22511;
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-120-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our
docket website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI), which is the
airworthiness authority for Israel, notified us that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream
100 airplanes; and Model Astra SPX, and 1125 Westwind Astra series
airplanes. The CAAI advises that three operators reported failure of
the steering brackets of the nose wheel steering assembly of the
landing gear, and in one incident, loss of steering control. Evaluation
of the steering brackets revealed that the probable cause of these
failures is excessive torsional forces applied to the steering
assembly, which can be caused during towing operation of the airplane
with the torque links connected. Subsequent to the original reports,
similar conditions have been found on other airplanes. This condition,
if not corrected, could result in loss of steering control and
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
Gulfstream Aerospace LP has issued Alert Service Bulletin 100-32A-
275, Revision 1, dated December 24, 2003. The service bulletin
describes procedures for a nondestructive test inspection for
discrepancies of the nose wheel steering assembly of the landing gear,
and corrective action if necessary. The discrepancies include cracking
of the upper and lower steering brackets and lack of rotation of the
centering spring. The corrective action involves replacing both the
upper and lower brackets if either bracket is cracked; applying
silicone grease to the centering spring mounting shaft and steering
bracket mounting hole; and torqueing the nut and verifying free
rotation of the centering spring. If no cracking is found, free
rotation of the centering spring must be verified before reconnecting
the spring; if the centering spring does not rotate, the nut must be
backed off until free rotation is obtained.
Gulfstream Aerospace LP has also issued Service Bulletin 1125-11-
181, Revision 1, dated December 24, 2003. The service bulletin
describes procedures for installing a warning placard on the outside of
each nose landing gear door that cautions ground handling crews to use
proper towing methods.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
The CAAI mandated the service information and issued Israeli
airworthiness directives 32-03-10-05 R1, dated February 8, 2004; and
32-03-12-09, dated February 5, 2004, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in Israel.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These airplane models are manufactured in Israel and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAAI has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. We have examined the CAAI's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Among the
Proposed AD, Service Bulletins, and Israeli Airworthiness Directives.''
Differences Among the Proposed AD, Service Bulletins, and Israeli
Airworthiness Directives
The applicability of Israeli airworthiness directive 32-03-10-05 R1
identifies Model Gulfstream 100 airplanes; Model Astra SPX and 1125
Westwind Astra airplanes with serial numbers 004, 011 through 147
inclusive, and 149. That airworthiness directive requires a one-time
inspection for discrepancies of the nose wheel steering assembly of the
landing gear. The applicability of Israeli airworthiness directive 32-
03-12-09 identifies Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra with serial
numbers 004 through 110 inclusive. That airworthiness directive
requires installation of warning placards. We have expanded the
applicability in this
[[Page 56145]]
proposed AD to require that all those airplanes accomplish all the
required actions. This requirement would ensure that the actions
specified in both of the Israeli airworthiness directives, and required
by this proposed AD, are accomplished on all affected airplanes. This
difference has been coordinated with the CAAI.
Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment
Instructions of the referenced service bulletins describe procedures
for submitting a service reply card, this proposed AD would not require
that action. We do not need this information from operators.
Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would affect about 106 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The proposed inspection would take about 8 work hours per airplane, at
an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $55,120, or
$520 per airplane.
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.
We are 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
We have 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 that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location
to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):
Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Formerly Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.):
Docket No. FAA-2005-22511; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-120-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on
this AD action by October 26, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream
100 airplanes; and Model Astra SPX, and 1125 Westwind Astra
airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified in Gulfstream
Alert Service Bulletin 100-32A-275, and Gulfstream Service Bulletin
1125-11-181, both Revision 1, both dated December 24, 2003.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the steering
brackets of the nose wheel steering assembly of the landing gear,
and in one incident, loss of steering control. We are issuing this
AD to find and fix discrepancies of the nose wheel steering assembly
which could result in loss of steering control and consequent
reduced controllability of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
One-Time Inspection/Corrective Action
(f) Within 50 flight hours or 25 landings after the effective
date of this AD, whichever is first: Perform a one-time non-
destructive test inspection for discrepancies of the nose wheel
steering assembly, install a warning placard on each nose landing
gear door, and do any applicable corrective action, by accomplishing
all the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of
Gulfstream Alert Service Bulletin 100-32A-275, and Gulfstream
Service Bulletin 1125-11-181, both Revision 1, both dated December
24, 2003. Any applicable corrective action must be accomplished
before further flight in accordance with Alert Service Bulletin 100-
32A-275. Although the service bulletins specify to submit certain
information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that
requirement.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, International Branch, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) Israeli airworthiness directives 32-03-10-05 R1, effective
February 8, 2004, and 32-03-12-09, effective February 5, 2004, also
address the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 16, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19141 Filed 9-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P