AD/G1159/44 Adel Wiggins Floor Heater Pad System 11/2005 DM

Applicability: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation model/series aeroplanes as follows:

Requirement: 1. Perform an inspection to determine if an Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system is installed. A review of aeroplane maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the presence of Adel Wiggins floor heater pads can be conclusively determined from that review.

2. If an Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system is found during the Requirement 1 inspection/determination - deactivate the Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable Alert Customer Bulletin (ACB) identified below, unless Requirement 3 applies.

3. For any aeroplane that is found to have an Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system installed but is not listed in the effectivity block of Gulfstream Drawing 1159SB50018, deactivate the Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Note 1: For details of deactivation method approved by the Atlanta FAA ACO contact Gulfstream Customer Support on +1 912-965-4178 for assistance.

Note 2: FAA AD 2005-16-14 Amdt 39-14220 refers.

Compliance: For Requirements 1, 2 and 3 - Within 25 flight hours or 30 days after the effective date of this Directive, whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 2 September 2005.

Background: The United States Federal aviation Administration has received a report of an incident in which an Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system short-circuited on a Gulfstream GV-SP series aeroplane. The short-circuit was discovered after an odour of burning was detected emanating from the floor of the cabin. The short-circuit resulted in localized damage to the floorboard and carpet. No circuit breakers tripped as a result of the short-circuiting. This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fire in the aeroplane cabin.

Adel Wiggins floor heater pad systems may also be installed on all Gulfstream Model G-IV and G-V series aeroplanes and certain Gulfstream Model GIV-X series aeroplanes. Therefore, those models may be subject to the unsafe  condition revealed on Model GV-SP series aeroplanes.

This Directive requires a one-time inspection to determine if an Adel Wiggins floor heater pad system is installed and deactivation of the floor heater pad system if it is installed.

FMI: www.casa.gov.au/airworth/airwd/ADfiles/over/g1159/G1159-044.pdf