AD 2002-20-06

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra 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.

Final rule.

2002-20-06 Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Formerly Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): Amendment 39-12902. Docket 2002-NM-114-AD.

Applicability: All Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra 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 of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

(a) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, revise the Emergency Procedures section of the FAA-approved AFM to include the following information; and operate the airplane in accordance with those procedures.

(1) For Model Astra SPX series airplanes: Include page II-2 of Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX AFM, Revision No. 17, dated July 25, 2000.

(2) For Model 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes: Include Temporary Revision (TR) No. 12 of the Israel Aircraft Industries Astra AFM, dated October 18, 2001. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of TR No. 12 into the AFM. When the TR has been incorporated into the general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, provided the information contained in the general revisions is identical to that specified in TR No. 12.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) 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

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 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

(d) The actions required by this AD shall be accomplished in accordance with page II-2 of the Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX Airplane Flight Manual, Revision 17, dated July 25, 2000; and Temporary Revision 12, dated October 18, 2001, to the Israel Aircraft Industries Astra Airplane Flight Manual; as applicable. Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX Airplane Flight Manual, Revision No. 17, including page II-2, contains the following list of effective pages:

Page No.
Revision level shown on page
Date shown on page
Log of Effective Pages--Page xvii
17
July 25, 2000

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, P.O. 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 21-00-11-18, dated November 27, 2000.

Effective Date

(e) This amendment becomes effective on January 31, 2003.

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 Aerospace LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2002 (67 FR 45410). 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.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 90 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 $5,400 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, pursuantto 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: