Document ID: FAA-2015-2967-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: DASSAULT AVIATION Airplanes
Posted Date: 2015-08-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45902-45905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18689]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2967; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-072-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-23-
20, for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX and MYSTERE-FALCON 
900 airplanes. AD 2002-23-20 currently requires repetitive operational 
tests of the flap asymmetry detection system to verify proper 
functioning, and repair if necessary; repetitive replacement of the 
inboard flap jackscrews with new or reconditioned jackscrews; and 
repetitive measurement of the screw/nut play of the jackscrews on the 
inboard and outboard flaps to detect discrepancies, and corrective 
action if necessary. AD 2002-23-20 currently requires a revision of the 
airplane flight manual. Since we issued AD 2002-23-20, the maintenance 
manual has been revised. 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. 
This proposed AD also removes the Model FALCON 900EX airplanes from the 
applicability of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
2015.

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-

[[Page 45903]]

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-
2967; 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; 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-2015-2967; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-072-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

    On January 3, 2003, we issued AD 2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 (67 
FR 71098, November 29, 2002); corrected May 4, 2010 (75 FR 23579). AD 
2002-23-20 requires actions intended to address an unsafe condition on 
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX and MYSTERE-FALCON 900 
airplanes.
    Since we issued AD 2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 (67 FR 71098, 
November 29, 2002); corrected May 4, 2010 (75 FR 23579), the 
maintenance manual has been revised. In addition, we are removing the 
Model 900EX airplanes from the applicability of the existing AD and 
those airplanes are addressed through a separate AD action (AD 2014-16-
26, Amendment 39-17950 (79 FR 51077, August 27, 2014)).
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2013-0053, dated March 4, 2013 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all MYSTERE-FALCON 
900 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    The airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements for 
the Myst[egrave]re-Falcon 900 type design 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 F900 AMM chapter 5-40 referenced DGT 113873 at 
revision 16.
    Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Dassault Aviation issued 
revision 20 of F900 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);
--Upgrade of screwjack of flap actuators from the older to the 
latest -3 version;
--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 calendar limit for checking the screw/nut play on 
screwjack of external flap actuators -1 and -2 versions;
--Removal of service life limit for screwjack of flap actuators;
--Test of flap asymmetry protection system. Compliance with this 
test is required by [a certain AD ***], but F900 AMM chapter 5-40 at 
revision 20 introduces 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 [http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2008_0072.pdf/AD_2008-0072_1] [which corresponds to FAA AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 
39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010], but F900 AMM chapter 5-40 
at revision 20 introduces an extended inspection interval;
--Check of overpressure relief valve vacuum supply lines.

    The maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, as 
specified in the F900 AMM chapter 5-40, have been identified as 
mandatory actions for continued airworthiness of the F900 type 
design. Failure to comply with AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 20 may 
result in an unsafe condition [reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane].
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires the 
implementation of the maintenance tasks and airworthiness 
limitations, as specified in the Dassault Aviation F900 AMM chapter 
5-40 DGT 113873 at revision 20.

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-
2967.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, Revision 20, 
dated October 2012, of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 900 Maintenance 
Manual. This service information describes procedures, maintenance 
tasks, and airworthiness limitations specified in the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the AMM. 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

[[Page 45904]]

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 112 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $9,520, or $85 per 
product.

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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 (67 FR 71098, November 29, 2002); 
corrected May 4, 2010 (75 FR 23579); and adding the following new AD:

DASSAULT AVIATION: Docket No. FAA-2015-2967; Directorate Identifier 
2014-NM-072-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 17, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2002-23-20, Amendment 39-12964 (67 FR 71098, 
November 29, 2002); corrected May 4, 2010 (75 FR 23579). This AD 
also affects AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, 
December 21, 2010).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all DASSAULT AVIATION Model MYSTERE-FALCON 
900 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This 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. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already 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, 
Revision 20, dated October 2012, of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 900 
Maintenance Manual. The initial compliance time for accomplishing 
the actions specified in Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, 
Revision 20, dated October 2012, of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 900 
Maintenance Manual, is within the applicable times specified in the 
maintenance manual or within 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 (g)(1) of AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-
16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010), for DASSAULT AVIATION Model 
MYSTERE-FALCON 900 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)(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, 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, 
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

[[Page 45905]]

(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 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 Docket No. FAA-2015-2967.
    (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 July 23, 2015.
Victor Wicklund,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18689 Filed 7-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P