EASA SIB CE-19-20
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-1159A (G-III), G-IV, GIV-X, GV, GV-SP, and GVI Aeroplanes - Flight Compartment Windows
Summary
The Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-1159A (G-III), G-IV, GIV-X, GV, GV-SP, and GVI Aeroplanes - Flight Compartment Windows Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB: CE-19-20) informs operators about windshield failures on these Gulfstream models. It highlights incidents involving arcing, cracking, smoke, and small fires related to the flight compartment windows and introduces a new windshield design with an improved heater terminal block for replacements.
What Changed
This bulletin introduces a new windshield design featuring an upgraded heater terminal block part numbers 1159SCB5102 13 (left) and 1159SCB5102 15 (right) for Gulfstream G-1159A (G-III), G-IV, GIV-X, GV, GV-SP, and GVI airplanes. It does not mandate regulatory action but provides recommendations for replacement and operational procedures in case of windshield cracking events.
Why It Matters
This information is important for aviation professionals because windshield failures can lead to serious safety issues such as smoke, arcing, and small fires, potentially causing diversions or emergency landings. Operators and maintenance personnel need to be aware of the new windshield design to ensure safer replacements and pilots must follow emergency procedures to mitigate risks during windshield cracking events.
What To Do
Pilots should assume structural windshield damage if cracking occurs and follow the airplane flight manual emergency or abnormal procedures, including pulling the windshield heat circuit breaker. Maintenance personnel are advised to replace existing windshields with the new design windshields using the specified upgraded terminal block part numbers. No specific compliance deadlines are provided as this bulletin is informational and not mandatory.