[Federal Register: December 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 235)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 70868-70870]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de06-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-NM-143-AD; Amendment 39-14843; AD 2006-25-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Model G-159 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to all Gulfstream Model G-159 airplanes, that requires
repetitive non-destructive testing inspections to detect corrosion of
the skin of certain structural assemblies, and corrective action if
necessary. This AD also requires x-ray and ultrasonic inspections to
detect corrosion and cracking of the splicing of certain structural
assemblies, and repair if necessary. The actions specified by this AD
are intended to detect and correct corrosion and cracking of the lower
wing plank splices and spot-welded skins of certain structural
assemblies, which could result in reduced controllability of the
airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe
condition.
DATES: Effective January 11, 2007.
The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of January 11, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be
obtained from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications
Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206.
[[Page 70869]]
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 FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta,
Georgia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Cann, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,
One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia
30349; telephone (770) 703-6038; fax (770) 703-6097.
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 Gulfstream Model G-159
airplanes was published as a second supplemental notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on July 12, 2006 (71 FR
39242). That action proposed to require repetitive non-destructive
testing inspections to detect corrosion of the skin of certain
structural assemblies, and corrective action if necessary. That action
also proposed to require x-ray and ultrasonic inspections to detect
corrosion and cracking of the splicing of certain structural
assemblies, and repair if necessary.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comments received.
Request To Incorporate by Reference Service Information
One commenter, the Modification and Replacement Parts Association
(MARPA), requests that service documents deemed essential to the
accomplishment of the proposed action be incorporated by reference into
the regulatory instrument. The commenter states that once a service
document is incorporated by reference into a public document such as an
airworthiness directive (AD), it loses its private, protected status
and becomes itself a public document. The commenter also states that
there is concern that failure to incorporate essential service
information could result in a court decision invalidating the AD.
We do not agree that documents should be incorporated by reference
during the NPRM phase of rulemaking. The Office of the Federal Register
requires that documents that are necessary to accomplish the
requirements of the AD be incorporated by reference during the final
rule phase of rulemaking. This final rule incorporates by reference the
document necessary for the accomplishment of the requirements mandated
by this AD. Further, we point out that while documents that are
incorporated by reference do become public information, they do not
lose their copyright protection. For that reason, we advise the public
to contact the manufacturer to obtain copies of the referenced service
information. No change is necessary to the AD in this regard.
Request To Publish Appropriate Service Information
The same commenter, MARPA, also requests that service information
necessary to accomplish actions specified in ADs be published in the
Docket Management System (DMS).
We are currently in the process of reviewing issues surrounding the
posting of service bulletins on the Department of Transportation's DMS
as part of an AD docket. Once we have thoroughly examined all aspects
of this issue and have made a final determination, we will consider
whether our current practice needs to be revised. No change is
necessary to the AD in this regard.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD as proposed in the second supplemental
NPRM.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 52 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 25 airplanes of U.S. registry
will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately between
300 and 450 work hours per airplane, depending upon how many spot-
welded skins have been replaced with bonded skin panels, to accomplish
the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $80 per work
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this AD on U.S.
operators is estimated to be between $600,000 and $900,000, or between
$24,000 and $36,000 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed 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
0
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
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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2006-25-02 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Amendment 39-14843.
Docket 96-NM-143-AD.
Applicability: All Model G-159 airplanes, certificated in any
category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To detect and correct corrosion and cracking of the lower wing
plank splices and spot-welded skins of certain structural
[[Page 70870]]
assemblies, which could result in reduced controllability of the
airplane, accomplish the following:
Note 1: A note in the Accomplishment Instructions of the
Gulfstream customer bulletin instructs operators to contact
Gulfstream if any difficulty is encountered in accomplishing the
customer bulletin. However, any deviation from the instructions
provided in the customer bulletin must be approved as an alternative
method of compliance (AMOC) under paragraph (h) of this AD.
Non-Destructive Testing Inspections of the Fuselage, Empennage, and
Flight Controls
(a) Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, perform
a non-destructive test (NDT) to detect corrosion of the skins of the
elevators, ailerons, rudder and rudder trim tab, flaps, aft lower
fuselage, and vertical and horizontal stabilizers; in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream GI Customer
Bulletin (CB) 337B, including Appendix A, dated August 17, 2005. The
corrosion criteria must be determined by the Manager, Atlanta
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Gulfstream Tool ST905-377
is also an acceptable method of determining the corrosion criteria.
(1) If no corrosion or cracking is detected, repeat the
inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months.
(2) If any corrosion is detected that meets the criteria of
``light'' or ``mild'' corrosion, repeat the NDT inspections of that
component thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months.
(3) If any corrosion is detected that meets the criteria of
``moderate'' corrosion: Within 9 months after the initial
inspection, repeat the NDT inspection of that component, and within
18 months since the initial inspection, repair or replace the
component with a serviceable component in accordance with the CB.
(4) If any corrosion is detected that meets the criteria of
``severe'' corrosion, before further flight, replace the component
with a serviceable component in accordance with the CB.
Existing Repairs
(b) If any existing repairs are found during the inspections
required by paragraph (a) of this AD, before further flight, ensure
that the repairs are in accordance with a method approved by the
Manager, Atlanta ACO.
Inspections of the Lower Wing Plank
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this AD: Within 9
months after the effective date of this AD, perform NDT inspections
to detect corrosion and cracking of the lower wing plank splices, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Gulfstream GI CB
337B, including Appendix A, dated August 17, 2005.
(1) If no corrosion or cracking is detected, repeat the NDT
inspection at intervals not to exceed 18 months.
(2) If any corrosion or cracking is detected, before further
flight, perform all applicable investigative actions and corrective
actions in accordance with the customer bulletin.
Repair Removal Threshold
(d) For repairs specified in Appendix A of Gulfstream GI CB
337B, dated August 17, 2005: Within 144 months after the date of the
repair installation, remove the repaired component and replace it
with a new or serviceable component, in accordance with Gulfstream
GI CB 337B, including Appendix A, dated August 17, 2005.
Prior Blending in the Riser Areas
(e) If, during the performance of the inspections required by
paragraph (c) or (f) of this AD, the inspection reveals that prior
blending has been performed on the riser areas: Before further
flight, perform an eddy current or fluorescent penetrant inspection,
as applicable, to evaluate the blending, and accomplish appropriate
corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Gulfstream GI CB 337B, including Appendix A, dated
August 17, 2005. If any blend-out is outside the limits specified in
the CB, before further flight, repair in a manner approved by the
Manager, Atlanta ACO.
For Airplanes with New Lower Wing Planks
(f) For airplanes with new lower wing planks: Within 144 months
after replacement of the lower wing planks with new lower wing
planks, or within 9 months after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, perform all of the actions, including all
related investigative actions and corrective actions, specified in
paragraph (c) of this AD.
Reporting Requirement
(g) Within 30 days of performing the inspections required by
this AD: Submit a report of inspection findings (both positive and
negative) to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation; Attention: Technical
Operations--Structures Group, Dept. 893, Mail Station D-25, 500
Gulfstream Road, Savannah, Georgia 31408. Information collection
requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been
assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(h)(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Incorporation by Reference
(i) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions must be
done in accordance with Gulfstream GI Customer Bulletin 337B,
including Appendix A, dated August 17, 2005. 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. To get copies of
this service information, contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation,
Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, Georgia
31402-2206. To inspect copies of this service information, go to the
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington; to FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown
Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia; or to
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Effective Date
(j) This amendment becomes effective on January 11, 2007.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 20, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-20620 Filed 12-6-06; 8:45 am]
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