[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8241-8243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2844]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19177; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-202-AD;
Amendment 39-13974; AD 2005-04-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 10 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. This AD requires a temporary
change to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide procedures to the
flightcrew for touchdown using the main landing gear to avoid a three-
point landing. This AD also requires repetitive inspections of the
piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear (NLG)
for cracks, which would terminate the AFM revision, and corrective
actions if necessary. In addition, this AD provides for a terminating
modification, which would end the repetitive inspections. This AD is
prompted by reports of failure of the piston rod of the drag strut
actuator of the NLG. The cause of such failure has been attributed to
fatigue cracking caused by corrosion in the piston rod of the drag
strut actuator. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking and/or
fracture of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the NLG, which
could result in a gear-up landing, structural damage, and possible
injury to passengers and crew.
DATES: This AD becomes effective March 25, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March
25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606.
You can examine this information at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of
this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19177; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2002-NM-202-AD.
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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with an AD for all Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. That
action, published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2004 (69 FR
57886), proposed to require a temporary change to the airplane flight
manual (AFM) to provide procedures to the flightcrew for touchdown
using the main landing gear to avoid a three-point landing. That action
also proposed to require repetitive inspections of the piston rod of
the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear (NLG) for cracks,
which
[[Page 8242]]
would terminate the AFM revision, and corrective actions if necessary.
In addition, the proposed AD provided a terminating modification, which
would end the repetitive inspections.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been
submitted on the proposed AD.
Request To Revise Paragraph (h), Repetitive Inspections
One commenter requests that the proposed AD be revised to allow
operators to replace a cracked drag strut actuator with an actuator
having the same part number. The commenter states that this should be
allowed only once, and that the operators would still have to perform
the repetitive inspections specified in paragraph (h)(2) of the
proposed AD. The commenter is concerned that there may be a shortage of
new, improved drag strut actuators since the parallel French
airworthiness directive, 2002-137(B), dated March 20, 2002, does not
mandate the replacement of a cracked drag strut actuator with a new,
improved actuator.
We agree with the commenter's request. We have revised paragraph
(h)(1) of this AD to specify that operators may replace a cracked drag
strut actuator with a part having the same part number, or do the
terminating modification specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
Request To Revise Paragraph (m), Part Installation
Two commenters, the airplane manufacturer and one of its
subsidiaries, request that paragraph (m) of the proposed AD be revised
to specify that only drag strut actuators, part number (P/N) 747721,
that fail an ultrasonic inspection as specified in paragraph (h) of the
proposed AD may not be reinstalled on the airplane. Specifically, the
commenters request to include the text ``* * * which has failed the
ultrasonic inspection of the piston rod for cracks in accordance with
Dassault Service Bulletin F10-294, dated March 20, 2002.'' The
commenters state that if the piston rod passes an ultrasonic inspection
it is acceptable to the airplane manufacturer to allow that drag strut
actuator to remain in service on the airplane. The commenters note
that, after reading paragraph (m) of the proposed AD, a person could
conclude that it is unacceptable to reinstall any drag strut actuator,
P/N 747721, if the actuator is removed from the airplane for any
reason. One of the commenters states that the additional text is
necessary to ensure a suitable number of spare parts are available to
operators upon publication of the AD.
We agree with the intent of the commenters' requests. Instead of
revising the Parts Installation paragraph included in the proposed AD,
we are omitting that paragraph from this AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD affects about 154 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The AFM revision takes about 1 work hour per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the AFM revision required by this AD for U.S.
operators is $10,010, or $65 per airplane.
The inspection takes about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average
labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated
cost of the inspection required by this AD for U.S. operators is
$10,010, or $65 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to
examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-04-02 Dassault Aviation [Formerly Avions Marcel Dassault-
Breguet Aviation (AMD/BA)]: Amendment 39-13974. Docket No. FAA-2004-
19177; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-202-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective March 25, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Dassault Model Falcon 10 series
airplanes, certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the piston rod
of the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear (NLG). We are
issuing this AD to prevent cracking and/or fracture of the piston
rod of the drag strut
[[Page 8243]]
actuator of the NLG, which could result in a gear-up landing,
structural damage, and possible injury to passengers and crew.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision
(f) Within 5 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise
the Limitations Section of the Falcon 10 AFM by incorporating
Dassault Temporary Change (TC) 24, dated March 1, 2002, into the
AFM. That TC provides procedures to the flightcrew for touchdown
using the main landing gear to avoid a three-point landing.
Thereafter, operate the airplane in accordance with the limitations
specified in the AFM revision.
(g) When the information in TC 24 has been included in general
revisions of the AFM, the TC may be removed from the AFM, provided
the relevant information in the general revision is identical to
that in TC 24.
Repetitive Inspections
(h) Within 7 months after the effective date of this AD: Do an
ultrasonic inspection of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator
of the NLG for cracks in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin
F10-294, dated March 20, 2002. After the initial inspection has been
done, the TC required by paragraph (f) of this AD may be removed
from the AFM.
(1) If any crack is found: Before further flight, replace the
cracked drag strut actuator with an airworthy part having the same
part number, or do the terminating modification specified in
paragraph (i) of this AD.
(2) If no crack is found: Repeat the inspection thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 700 landings on the drag strut actuator.
Terminating Modification
(i) Accomplishment of the modification of the drag strut
actuator in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin F10-297, dated
October 1, 2003, and prior or concurrent accomplishment of the
related modification in accordance with Messier-Hispano-Bugatti
Falcon 10 Service Bulletin 511-32-26, dated November 9, 1979, ends
the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (h)(2) of this AD.
Additional Source of Service Information
(j) Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 747721-32-057, dated February
5, 2003, is referenced in Dassault Service Bulletin F10-294 as an
additional source of service information for replacing the drag
strut actuator rod.
Actions Not Required
(k) Dassault Service Bulletin F10-294 recommends returning the
drag strut actuator to the component repair agent for replacement if
a crack is found, but this AD requires doing the terminating
modification specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
(l) Dassault Service Bulletins F10-294 and F10-297 recommend
submitting certain inspection results to the manufacturer. This AD
does not require those actions.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(m) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(n) French airworthiness directive 2002-137(B) dated March 20,
2002, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(o) You must use the service information that is specified in
Table 1 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal
Register approves the incorporation by reference of those documents
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of
the service information, contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000,
South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. For information on the
availability of this material at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Service information Revision level Date
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Dassault Service Bulletin F10- Original.......... Mar. 20, 2002.
294.
Dassault Service Bulletin F10- Original.......... Oct. 1, 2003.
297.
Dassault Temporary Change 24 to Original.......... Mar. 1, 2002.
the Falcon 10 Airplane Flight
Manual.
Messier-Hispano-Bugatti Falcon Original.......... Nov. 9, 1979.
10 Service Bulletin 511-32-26.
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Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 3, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2844 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am]
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