[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68299-68301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30333]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-390-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Dassault Model Mystere-
Falcon 900 series airplanes. This proposal would require revising the 
Abnormal Procedures section of the airplane flight manual to advise the 
flightcrew to avoid use of certain display modes during approaches. 
This proposal also would require replacing certain symbol generators of 
the Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) with modified symbol 
generators. This action is necessary to prevent distraction of the 
flightcrew during a critical phase of flight due to certain EFIS 
displays flashing or going blank, which could result in loss of control 
of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified 
unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-390-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-390-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New 
Jersey 07606. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

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 action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
    [sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
    [sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
    [sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2001-NM-390-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-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2001-NM-390-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), 
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 
900 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that, in certain phases of 
flight, especially during approach, the quantity of data to be 
processed may lead to saturation of the processors of certain symbol 
generators used by the Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS). 
This may cause the EFIS display to flash or go blank. This condition, 
if not corrected, could result in distraction of the flightcrew during 
a critical phase of flight, which could result in loss of control of 
the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Dassault has issued Temporary Change No. 86 to the Abnormal 
Procedures section of the Mystere-Falcon 900 Airplane Flight Manual 
(AFM). That Temporary Change advises the flightcrew that certain EFIS 
displays may blink or blank due to overload of certain symbol 
generators, and advises the flightcrew to avoid using certain display 
modes during approaches to decrease the load on the display processor.
    Dassault has also issued Service Bulletin F900-281, Revision 1, 
dated October 3, 2001. That service bulletin describes procedures for 
replacing certain symbol generators with modified symbol generators. 
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
    The DGAC classified the temporary change to the AFM and the service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directive 2001-
466-033(B), dated October 3, 2001, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
Sec.  21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the 
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement,

[[Page 68300]]

the DGAC has kept us informed of the situation described above. We have 
examined the findings of the DGAC, reviewed all available information, 
and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type 
design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    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 revising the 
Abnormal Procedures section of the AFM to advise the flightcrew to 
avoid using certain display modes during approaches, and accomplishing 
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously, 
except as discussed below.

Difference Between Proposed AD and Referenced Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced service bulletin describe procedures for 
completing and returning a card recording compliance with the service 
bulletin, this proposed AD would not require this action.

Cost Impact

    We estimate that 93 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by 
this proposed AD.
    It would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish 
the proposed AFM revision, at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this proposed action 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $6,045, or $65 per airplane.
    It would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish 
the proposed replacement, at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Required parts would be provided by the parts manufacturer at no 
charge. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this proposed action 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $6,045, or $65 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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 cost impact figures 
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to 
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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 
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

Dassault Aviation: Docket 2001-NM-390-AD.

    Applicability: Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; serial numbers (S/Ns) 1 through 168 
inclusive, and 170 through 178 inclusive; equipped with an SPZ 8000 
avionics system.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent distraction of the flightcrew during a critical phase 
of flight due to certain Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) 
displays flashing or going blank, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane, accomplish the following:

Airplane Flight Manual Revision

    (a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Abnormal Procedures section of the Mystere-Falcon 900 Airplane 
Flight Manual (AFM) to include the information in Temporary Change 
(TC) No. 86. That TC advises the flightcrew that certain EFIS 
displays may blink or blank due to overload of certain symbol 
generators, and advises the flightcrew to avoid using certain 
display modes during approaches to decrease the load on the display 
processor. Operate the airplane per the limitations and procedures 
in the TC.

    Note 1: The requirements of paragraph (a) may be done by 
inserting a copy of TC No. 86 in the AFM. When this TC has been 
included in general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may 
be inserted in the AFM, and TC No. 86 may be removed from the AFM, 
provided the relevant information in the general revision is 
identical to that in TC No. 86.

Replacement of Symbol Generators

    (b) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, do 
paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this AD, per Dassault Service 
Bulletin F900-281, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2001, except that it 
is not necessary to complete the compliance card.
    (1) Replace all SG-820 symbol generators having part numbers (P/
Ns) 7007356-901 or -902, or P/Ns 7007356-903 or -904 without 
Honeywell Modification S; with symbol generators having a P/N and a 
Honeywell modification level listed in the ``NEW P/N'' column of the 
table under paragraph 3.A. of the service bulletin.
    (2) Replace all MG-820 symbol generators having P/Ns 7009289-801 
or -802, or P/Ns 7009289-803 or -804 without Honeywell Modification 
V, with symbol generators having a P/N and a Honeywell modification 
level listed in the ``NEW P/N'' column of the table under paragraph 
3.B. of the service bulletin.

Parts Installation

    (c) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
symbol generator having a P/N and a modification level listed in the 
``OLD P/N'' column of the tables under paragraphs 3.A. and 3.B. of 
Dassault Service Bulletin F900-281, Revision 1, dated October 3, 
2001.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, is authorized 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-466-033(B), dated October 3, 2001.



[[Page 68301]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 1, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30333 Filed 12-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P