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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28-30]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32891]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7532; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-069-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of multiple cases of ram air turbine (RAT) blade 
damage.

[[Page 29]]

This proposed AD would require deployment of the RAT, replacement of 
the RAT placard with a new RAT placard, and re-identification of the 
RAT. We are proposing this AD to prevent blade damage to the RAT which 
could prevent RAT deployment in flight during an emergency, possibly 
resulting in reduced control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 18, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; 
telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You 
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7532; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Operations office (telephone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriquez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1137; 
fax: 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-7532; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-069-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2015-0076, dated May 6, 2015 (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. 
The MCAI states:

    A few cases of Ram Air Turbine (RAT) blade damage have been 
reported during maintenance operations. This kind of damage is 
caused by an incorrect locking of RAT rotor, due to improper 
positioning of blades at beginning of retraction, and locking check 
during retraction, which likely occurs during stowage of the RAT, 
after its deployment for maintenance purposes.
    This condition, if not corrected, could prevent RAT deployment 
in flight during an emergency, possibly resulting in reduced control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault Aviation 
issued Service Bulletin (SB) 7X-289, which provides instructions to 
smoothly deploy the RAT and install an improved placard to ensure 
proper RAT stowage/retraction after maintenance.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of the existing RAT placard with a new placard and RAT 
re-identification. This [EASA] AD also provides conditions for 
installation of a RAT on an aeroplane.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7532.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Dassault Aviation has issued Dassault Mandatory Service Bulletin 
7X-289, dated January 21, 2015. The service information describes 
procedures for deployment of the RAT, replacement of the RAT placard 
with a new RAT placard, and re-identification of the RAT. This service 
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 45 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $121 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $20,745, or $461 per product.
    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in

[[Page 30]]

air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and 
procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air 
commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because 
it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on 
products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2015-7532; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NM-069-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 18, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes, 
certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical 
power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of multiple cases of ram air 
turbine (RAT) blade damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent blade 
damage to the RAT which could prevent RAT deployment in flight 
during an emergency, possibly resulting in reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Placard Replacement

    Except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD: Within 28 months 
or during the next accomplishment of the RAT functional test, 
whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, deploy 
the RAT, replace the RAT placard with a new RAT placard, and re-
identify the RAT part number (P/N) 1705673A to a part number 
identified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Mandatory Service 
Bulletin 7X-289, dated January 21, 2015.
    (1) Change P/N 1705673A to P/N 1705673B.
    (2) Change P/N 1705673A to a part number that is approved as a 
replacement for P/N 1705673A and approved as part of the type design 
by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 
Dassault Aviation's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA); after 
the issue date of Dassault Mandatory Service Bulletin 7X-289, dated 
January 21, 2015.

(h) Exception to Paragraph (g) of This AD

    An airplane on which Dassault Aviation Modification M1428 has 
been embodied in production is not affected by the requirements of 
paragraph (g) of this AD, provided no RAT P/N 1705673A has been 
installed on that airplane since first flight.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
RAT, part number 1705673A, on any airplane.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the International 
Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom Rodriquez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-
1137; fax: 425-227-1149. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter must 
specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Dassault Aviation's EASA 
Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2015-0076, dated May 6, 2015, for related 
information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket 
No. FAA-2015-7532.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; 
telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 18, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32891 Filed 12-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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