Document ID: FAA-2014-0176-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: DASSAULT AVIATION Airplanes
Posted Date: 2014-03-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17942-17944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07070]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0176; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-066-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; DASSAULT AVIATION Airplanes

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 
certain DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. This proposed 
AD was prompted by our determination of the need for a revision to the 
airplane airworthiness limitations to introduce a corrosion prevention 
control program, among other changes, to the maintenance requirements 
and airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD would require revising 
the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to include the 
maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations specified in the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the airplane maintenance manual. 
We are proposing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane, and prevent reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 15, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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-2014-
0176; 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 Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 227-1137; 
fax: (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 17943]]

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-2014-0176; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-066-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 Aviaton Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2013-0052, dated March 4, 2013 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    The airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements for 
the Falcon 900EX type design relating to Falcon 900EX Easy, Falcon 
900LX and Falcon 900DX variants, are included in Aircraft 
Maintenance Manual (AMM) chapter 5-40 and are approved by the 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
    EASA issued AD 2008-0221 [http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2008_0221_Corrected.pdf/AD_2008-0221_1] to require 
accomplishment of the maintenance tasks and implementation of the 
airworthiness limitations, as specified in Dassault Aviation Falcon 
900EX Easy/900LX/900DX AMM chapter 5-40 referenced DGT 113875 at 
revision 3.
    Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Dassault Aviation issued 
revision 7 of Falcon 900EX Easy/900LX/900DX AMM chapter 5-40, which 
contains new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or 
airworthiness limitations and introduces, among others, the 
following changes:

--Tasks renumbering,
--Introduction of a Corrosion Prevention Control Program (CPCP),
--Revised overhaul limits for screwjack of flap actuators -3 
version;
--Revised interval for checking the screw/nut play on screwjack of 
flap actuators -3 version;
--Removal of service life limit for screwjack of flap actuators;
--Test of flap asymmetry protection system, with an extended 
inspection interval;
--Inspection procedures of fuselage and wings;
--Check of overpressure tightness on pressurization control 
regulating valves. Compliance with this check is required by EASA AD 
2008-0072, but AMM chapter 5-40 DGT 113875 at revision 7 introduces 
an extended inspection interval;
--Check of overpressure relief valve vacuum supply lines. The 
maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, as specified in the 
Falcon 900EX Easy/900LX/900DX AMM chapter 5-40, have been identified 
as mandatory actions for continued airworthiness of the Falcon EX 
Easy, Falcon 900LX and Falcon 900DX variants of the F900EX type 
design. Failure to comply with AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 7 may 
result in an unsafe condition.

    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the 
implementation of the maintenance tasks and airworthiness 
limitations, as specified in the Dassault Aviation Falcon 900EX 
Easy/900LX/900DX AMM chapter 5-40 DGT 113875 at revision 7.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2014-0176.

Relevant Service Information

    Dassault Aviation has issued Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness 
Limitations, DGT 113875, Revision 7, dated September 2012, of the 
Falcon 900 EX EASy, Falcon 900LX, and Falcon 900 DX Maintenance Manual. 
The actions described in this service information are intended to 
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

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 78 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance Program Revision........  1 work-hour x $85 per               N/A              $85           $6,630
                                       hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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

[[Page 17944]]

    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. Amend Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

DASSAULT AVIATION: Docket No. FAA-2014-0176; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NM-066-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 15, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 (67 FR 71098, 
November 29, 2002), and AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 
79952, December 21, 2010).

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 900EX 
airplanes, certificated in any category, serial number (S/N) 97 and 
S/N 120 and higher (Falcon 900EX Easy, Falcon 900LX and Falcon 900DX 
variants).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a revision to the airplane airworthiness 
limitations to introduce the corrosion prevention control program, 
among other changes, to the maintenance requirements and 
airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced 
structural integrity of the airplane, and prevent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Revision of Maintenance Program

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the 
information specified in Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, 
DGT 113875, Revision 7, dated September 2012, of the Falcon 900 EX 
EASy, Falcon 900LX, and Falcon 900 DX Maintenance Manual. The 
initial compliance time for accomplishing the actions specified in 
Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT 113875, Revision 7, 
dated September 2012, of the Falcon 900 EX EASy, Falcon 900LX, and 
Falcon 900 DX Maintenance Manual, is within the applicable times 
specified in the maintenance manual or 30 days after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, except as provided by 
paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(4) of this AD.
    (1) The term ``LDG'' in the ``First Inspection'' column of any 
table in the service information means total airplane landings.
    (2) The term ``FH'' in the ``First Inspection'' column of any 
table in the service information means total flight hours.
    (3) The term ``FC'' in the ``First Inspection'' column of any 
table in the service information means total flight cycles.
    (4) The term ``M'' in the ``First Inspection'' column of any 
table in the service information means months.

(h) Terminating Action

    Accomplishing paragraph (g) of this AD terminates the 
requirements of paragraph (a) of AD 2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 
(67 FR 71098, November 29, 2002); and paragraph (g)(1) of AD 2010-
26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010), for 
DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 900EX airplanes, S/N 97 and S/N 120 
and higher.

(i) No Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may 
be used unless the actions or intervals are approved as an 
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.

(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 Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: (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) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer, use these actions if they 
are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if 
they were approved by the State of Design Authority (or its 
delegated agent, or the DAH with a State of Design Authority's 
design organization approval). For a repair method to be approved, 
the repair approval must specifically refer to this AD. You are 
required to ensure the product is airworthy before it is returned to 
service.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2013-0053, dated March 4, 2013, 
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 it in Docket No. FAA-2014-0176.
    (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 March 19, 2014.
Ross Landes,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07070 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P