EASA AD US-2020-02-18
Flight Controls - Airplane Flight Manual - Revision
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airworthiness Directive 2020-02-18 is a final rule addressing all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models GVI, GVII-G500, and GVII-G600 airplanes. This directive requires revising the airplane flight manual by attaching a supplement that includes new or revised operating limitations, abnormal procedures, and emergency procedures to mitigate risks associated with flight control surface shutdowns.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a mandatory revision to the airplane flight manuals of the affected Gulfstream models by incorporating a flight manual supplement. The supplement prohibits continued flight after a flight control or flight control computer failure and mandates landing as soon as possible if such failures occur in flight. It addresses the loss of flight control surface protection against hard-over and force-fight events.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a significant safety risk where continued flight after a flight control surface shutdown could lead to loss of structural integrity and control of the airplane. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to prevent catastrophic flight control failures. The updated procedures enhance safety by restricting flight operations under certain failure conditions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
What To Do
Operators of Gulfstream Models GVI, GVII-G500, and GVII-G600 airplanes must revise their airplane flight manuals by attaching the applicable flight manual supplement by February 13, 2020. This revision is not considered maintenance and may be performed by a pilot with at least a private pilot certificate. Compliance must be recorded in the aircraft maintenance records. Comments on the directive are accepted until March 30, 2020.
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