Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 / Proposed Rules 171

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 29, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–118 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–193–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault

Model Mystere Falcon 900 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Dassault Aviation Model

Mystere Falcon 900 series airplanes.

This proposal would require

replacement of the water heater control

relays with improved relays having

high-power contactors; the addition of a

testing and monitoring circuit for each

contactor; and installation of improved

electrical bonding of the potable water

tank. This proposal is prompted by

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent overheating of

the water heaters for the galley or the

washbasin, which could result in

damage to the water heater and nearby

electrical wiring, and consequent smoke

in the cabin.

DATES: Comments must be received by

February 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

193–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation,

Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box 2000, South

Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–NM–193–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–193–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Dassault

Aviation Model Mystere Falcon 900

series airplanes. The DGAC advises that

three occurrences have been reported in

which the ground crew detected a

burning smell coming from the

washbasin in the rear toilet. The water

heater was found to be very hot and the

electrical wires beside the water heater

were smoldering. Investigation revealed

that the power contacts of the control

relay to the water heater for the galley

or the washbasin can remain closed,

which can allow the water to overheat.

This condition, if not corrected, could

result in damage to the water heater and

nearby electrical wiring, and consequent

smoke in the cabin.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Dassault has issued Service Bulletin

F900–181 (F900–38–12), dated

December 4, 1996, which describes

procedures for replacement of the water

heater control relays with improved

relays having high-power contactors; the

addition of a testing and monitoring

circuit for each contactor; and

installation of improved electrical

bonding of the potable water tank.

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition. The DGAC

classified this service bulletin as

mandatory and issued French

airworthiness directive 96–279–018(B),

dated December 4, 1996, in order to

assure the continued airworthiness of

these airplanes in France.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in France and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the DGAC has kept the FAA informed

of the situation described above. The

FAA has examined the findings of the

DGAC, reviewed all available

information, and determined that AD

action is necessary for products of this

type design that are certificated for

operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of the actions specified
172 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 / Proposed Rules

in the service bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 1 airplane of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 24 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would cost approximately $6,300 per

airplane. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the proposed AD on the single

U.S. operator is estimated to be $7,740.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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.

Therefore, in accordance with

Executive Order 12612, it is determined

that this proposal would not have

sufficient federalism implications to

warrant the preparation of a Federalism

Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

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

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Dassault Aviation: Docket 97–NM–193–AD

Applicability: Model Mystere Falcon 900

airplanes; equipped with l’HOTELLIER water

system gauges having part number (P/N)

5250, 5251, 5250–1 or 5251–1; certificated in

any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For airplanes that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent overheating of the water heaters

for the galley or the washbasin, which could

result in damage to the water heater and

nearby electrical wiring, and consequent

smoke in the cabin, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 7 months or 330 flight hours

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs first: Replace the water heater control

relays with improved relays; add a testing

and monitoring circuit for each contactor;

and install improved electrical bonding of

the potable water tank; in accordance with

Dassault Service Bulletin F900–181 (F900–

38–12), dated December 4, 1996.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 96–279–

018(B), dated December 4, 1996.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 29, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager,

Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–117 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–269–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; de Havilland

Model DHC–8–100 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain de Havilland Model DHC–8–100

series airplanes. This proposal would

require a one-time visual inspection to

determine the presence of block seals on

the upper portions of the cabin/baggage

compartment bulkheads, and

installation of a new or serviceable

block seal for any missing block seal.

This proposal is prompted by the

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent smoke

contamination of the passenger and

crew cabins, in the event of fire or

smoke in the baggage compartment, due

to a direct smoke path between the

baggage compartment and the cabins.

DATES: Comments must be received by

February 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

269–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional

Aircraft Division, Garratt Boulevard,