Document ID: FAA-2013-0794-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Dassault Aviation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2013-09-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58973-58975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23333]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0794; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-157-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 all 
Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by 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 program 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.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 12, 
2013.

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 
review copies of the 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; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the MCAI, 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, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 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-2013-0794; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-157-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 Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0157, dated August 23, 2012 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the

[[Page 58974]]

MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:*

    The airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements for the 
Falcon 2000EX type design are included in Dassault Aviation Falcon 
2000EX (F2000EX) 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/ad/2008-0221.pdf] to require 
accomplishment of the maintenance tasks, and implementation of the 
airworthiness limitations, as specified in Dassault Aviation F2000EX 
AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 3.
    Since that AD was issued, Dassault Aviation issued F2000EX AMM 
chapter 5-40 at revision 7, which introduces new or more restrictive 
maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations.
    Dassault Aviation AMM chapter 5-40 revision 7 contains among other 
changes the following requirements:

--Inspection and test of horizontal stabilizer jackscrew;
--Test of various components of the electrical power system;
--Revised Time Between Overhaul 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. F2000EX AMM chapter 5-40 at 
revision 7 introduces extended inspection interval;
--Tests of the auto brake system;
--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 
[http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2008-0072.pdf]. F2000EX AMM chapter 5-40 
at revision 7 introduces extended inspection interval.
    The maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, as specified 
in the F2000EX AMM chapter 5-40, have been identified as mandatory 
actions for continued airworthiness of the F2000EX type design. Failure 
to comply with AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 7 might constitute an 
unsafe condition.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires the 
implementation of the maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, 
as specified in Dassault Aviation F2000EX AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 
7.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Dassault has issued Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT 
113877, Revision 8, dated July 2012, of Chapter 5 of the Dassault 
Falcon 2000EX, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Falcon 2000DX, and Falcon 2000LX 
Maintenance Manual, dated July 16, 2012. 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.
    This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance 
documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance with 
these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have 
been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed 
by this AD, the operator may not be able to accomplish the actions 
described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 
91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method 
of compliance according to paragraph (j) of this AD. The request should 
include a description of changes to the required inspections that will 
ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 18 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 manual revision.........  1 work-hour x $85 per               N/A              $85           $1,530
                                       hour = $85.
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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
    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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with

[[Page 58975]]

this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 AD:

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2013-0794; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-157-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 12, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    Certain requirements of this AD terminate the requirements of AD 
2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010), for 
the airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX 
airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

(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.

(f) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

(g) Revision of Maintenance or Inspection 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 113877, Revision 8, dated July 2012, of Chapter 5 of the 
Dassault Falcon 2000EX, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Falcon 2000DX, and 
Falcon 2000LX Maintenance Manual, dated July 16, 2012. The initial 
compliance time for accomplishing the actions specified in Chapter 
5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT 113877, Revision 8, dated July 
2012, of Chapter 5 of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX, Falcon 2000EX 
EASy, Falcon 2000DX, and Falcon 2000LX Maintenance Manual, dated 
July 16, 2012, is within the times specified in that 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 ``landings'' in the ``First Inspection'' column of 
any table in the service information means total airplane landings.
    (2) The term ``flight hours'' in the ``First Inspection'' column 
of any table in the service information means total flight hours.
    (3) The term ``flight cycles'' in the ``First Inspection'' 
column of any table in the service information means total flight 
cycles.
    (4) For task number 52-20-00-610-801-01 52-205 the initial 
compliance time is within 24 months after the effective date of this 
AD.

(h) Terminating Action

    Accomplishing paragraph (g) of this AD terminates the 
requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 
(75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010), for Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 
2000EX Airplanes.

(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) of this AD.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) AMOCs: The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 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, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1137; fax 425-227-
1137. 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 or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2012-
0157, dated August 23, 2012, for related information. The MCAI can 
be found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    (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 review copies of the 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 13, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23333 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P