[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3583-3585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1132]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-200-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 
900 Series Airplanes Equipped With Fairchild Model F800 Flight Data 
Recorders, Installed in Accordance With Supplemental Type Certificate 
(STC) SA7255SW-D

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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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 
modification of the electrical power installation of the flight data 
recorder, replacement of the currently installed socket box for ground 
power with a modified socket box, and performance of checks and tests. 
This proposal is prompted by reports of the generators shutting down 
due to an intermittent relay failure of the flight data recorders. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of 
[[Page 3584]] electrical power to the airplane due to generator outage.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-200-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 Falcon Jet Corporation, P.O. Box 967, Little Rock, 
Arkansas 72203-0967. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2148; fax (206) 227-1320.

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 94-NM-200-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-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 94-NM-200-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    Recently, the FAA has received reports indicating that the 
generators on certain Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes may 
shut down due to an intermittent relay failure of flight data recorders 
that were installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate 
(STC) SA7255SW-D. This failure occurred because of an electrical short, 
due to a defective relay. Such electrical shorting resulted in 28 volts 
in the relay of the control box of the ground power unit (GPU), which 
controls all three generators when the airplane is powered externally. 
In these reported instances, the 28 volts of power energized the GPU 
relay and functioned as though the airplane were powered externally. 
(That is, all three generators shut down.) After the shutdown of all 
three generators, all critical and essential equipment would be 
operable only for the duration of the battery power. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in loss of electrical power to the 
airplane.
    Falcon Jet Corporation has issued Service Bulletin 900-54 (F900 31-
30), dated October 14, 1994, and Revision 1 (F900 31-1), dated November 
17, 1994. (The FAA has reviewed and approved these service bulletins.) 
The service bulletins describe procedures for modifying the electrical 
power installation of flight data recorders installed in accordance 
with STC SA7255SW-D; replacing the currently installed socket box for 
ground power with a modified socket box; and performing post-
modification checks and tests. The modification removes the automatic 
disabling capability of the electrical power to the flight data 
recorder when the airplane is powered externally.
    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. The FAA has 
determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design 
that are certificated for operation in the United States.
    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 modification of the 
electrical power installation of the flight data recorder, replacement 
of the currently installed socket box for ground power with a modified 
socket box, and performance of checks and tests. The actions would be 
required to be accomplished in accordance with the either of the 
service bulletins described previously.
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA 
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision 
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered 
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance 
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval 
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with 
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has 
been included in this notice to clarify this requirement.
    The FAA estimates that 18 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8 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 $286 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $13,788, 
or $766 per airplane.
    The total 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.
    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 
[[Page 3585]] 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Dassault Aviation: Docket 94-NM-200-AD.

    Applicability: Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes having 
serial numbers 53 through 139 inclusive, equipped with Fairchild 
Model F800 flight data recorders, installed in accordance with 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA7255SW-D; certificated in any 
category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (c) to request approval from the FAA. This 
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration 
eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions necessary to 
address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of electrical power to the airplane due to 
generator outage, accomplish the following:
    (a) At the next scheduled inspection, but no later than 60 days 
after the effective date of this AD, modify the electrical power 
installation for the flight data recorder, in accordance with 
paragraph 3.C.(1), Part 900-54-1, of Falcon Jet Corporation Service 
Bulletin 900-54 (F900 31-30), dated October 14, 1994, or Revision 1 
(F900-31-1), dated November 17, 1994. Prior to further flight 
subsequent to the accomplishment of this modification, perform the 
checks and tests in accordance with paragraph 3.D.(1), Part 900-54-
1, of either service bulletin.
    (b) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the currently installed socket box for ground power with a modified 
socket box, in accordance with paragraph 3.C.(2), Part 900-54-2, of 
Revision 1 of Falcon Jet Corporation Service Bulletin 900-54 (F900 
31-1), dated November 17, 1994. Prior to further flight, subsequent 
to the accomplishment of this installation, perform the checks and 
tests, in accordance with paragraph 3.D.(2), Part 900-54-2, of 
Revision 1 of the service bulletin.
    (c) 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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, 
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, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (d) 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 January 11, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-1132 Filed 1-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U