Airworthiness Directives: Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900, Falcon 900EX, and Falcon 2000 Airplanes

Federal Register: July 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 130)

Proposed Rules

Page 38346-38348

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr07jy08-11

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39

Docket No. FAA-2008-0729; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-052-AD

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900,

Falcon 900EX, and Falcon 2000 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the discovery of a potential chafing between the rheostat of the 3rd crew member control panel reading light and the air gasper flexible hose, or with the electrical

Page 38347

wires nearby. If le[f]t uncorrected, this chafing may expose the metallic spiral armature of the flexible hose, or damage the electrical wires insulation, which could result in a short-circuit generating sustained overheating and smoke emission.

* * * * *

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 6, 2008.

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 W12-40, 1200 New

Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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 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; 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-2008-0729;

Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-052-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 2008-0013, dated January 24, 2008 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the discovery of a potential chafing between the rheostat of the 3rd crew member control panel reading light and the air gasper flexible hose, or with the electrical wires nearby. If le[f]t uncorrected, this chafing may expose the metallic spiral armature of the flexible hose, or damage the electrical wires insulation, which could result in a short-circuit generating sustained overheating and smoke emission.

This AD requires an inspection of the air gasper installation in the 3rd crew control panel of the LH [left-hand] and RH [right-hand] crew closet for interference and damage and applicable related corrective actions.

The corrective actions include replacing the flexible hoses and installing ROUNDIT insulation sleeving to the wires near the rheostat.

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

Relevant Service Information

Dassault has issued Service Bulletins F900-360 and F900EX-261, both dated July 20, 2005; and F2000-316, dated July 27, 2005. 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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the

AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect 335 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 4 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators to be $107,200, or $320 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.

Page 38348

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); and 3. 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 this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 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] 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2008-0729; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-052-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by August 6, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900 airplanes from serial number (S/N) 1 to 200 inclusive; Model Falcon 900EX airplanes from S/N 1 to 129 inclusive; and Model Falcon 2000 airplanes from S/N 01 to 210 inclusive; when fitted with a third crew member control panel; certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25:

Equipment/Furnishings.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the discovery of a potential chafing between the rheostat of the 3rd crew member control panel reading light and the air gasper flexible hose, or with the electrical wires nearby. If le[f]t uncorrected, this chafing may expose the metallic spiral armature of the flexible hose, or damage the electrical wires insulation, which could result in a short-circuit generating sustained overheating and smoke emission.

This AD requires an inspection of the air gasper installation in the 3rd crew control panel of the LH [left-hand] and RH [right-hand] crew closet for interference and damage and applicable related corrective actions.

The corrective actions include replacing the flexible hose and installing ROUNDIT insulation sleeving to the wires near the rheostat.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Within 7 months after the effective date of this AD, unless already done, do a detailed inspection of the air gasper installation in the 3rd crew member control panel of the left-hand and right-hand crew closet for interference and damage, and do all applicable related corrective actions as instructed in the

Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service information listed in Table 1 of this AD. Corrective actions must be done before further flight.

Table 1.--Service Information

Dassault Service Bulletin

Date

F900-360............................... July 20, 2005.

F900EX-261............................. July 20, 2005.

F2000-316.............................. July 27, 2005.

FAA AD Differences

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) 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. Send information 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) 227-1149.

Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA

Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local

FSDO.

(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.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120- 0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

Airworthiness Directive 2008-0013, dated January 24, 2008, and the service information listed in Table 1 of this AD, for related information.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 24, 2008.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

FR Doc. E8-15370 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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