AD 2021-26-02 Prompted By The Omission Of A Life Limit In The Airworthiness Limitations Section

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. This AD was prompted by the omission of a life limit in the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance manual for a certain main landing gear (MLG) trunnion pin.

This AD requires revising the ALS of your existing instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective January 14, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 17, 2021 (86 FR 51842). The NPRM was prompted by notification from Gulfstream that a life limit for replacing MLG trunnion pin part number (P/N) 1159SCL566-15 had been omitted from the ALS of the maintenance manual for Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. Gulfstream revised the ALS for the applicable airplanes to establish a life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. A trunnion pin remaining in service beyond its fatigue life could lead to fracture and failure of the trunnion pin.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of your ICA or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit of 20,000 flight cycles for the affected MLG trunnion pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent MLG failure, which could lead to a runway excursion.

FMI: www.regulations.gov