[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9853-9856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3559]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20425; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD; 
Amendment 39-13987; AD 2005-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes. This 
AD requires prohibiting dispatch with certain equipment inoperative; 
and revising the airplane flight manual to facilitate recovery of the 
cockpit display units in the event of an avionics standard 
communication bus (ASCB) failure and to inform the flightcrew what 
equipment is inoperative during an ASCB failure. This AD also requires 
doing an integrity check of the ASCB for any faults and corrective 
action if necessary, and installing an avionics software update to the 
Honeywell Primus Epic system. This AD is prompted by a report that an 
analysis and tests of the Honeywell Primus Epic systems installed on 
the Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed that all 
information displayed on the cockpit display units could become invalid 
during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent a loss of data from 
all four of the cockpit display units, and loss of all radio 
communications (with the exception of VHF emergency frequency and last 
frequency used), primary navigation instruments, autopilot, auto-
throttle, central alerting system, aural alarms, and normal braking (on 
Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes only). These losses could reduce 
the flightcrew's situational awareness, increase flightcrew workload, 
and consequently reduce the ability to maintain safe flight and landing 
of the airplane.

DATES: Effective March 1, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 
1, 2005.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 2, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    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.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket

[[Page 9854]]

Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2005-20425; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2005-NM-014-AD.

Examining the Docket

    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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

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 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 Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes. The DGAC 
advises that an analysis and tests of the Honeywell Primus Epic system 
installed on Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed a 
potential for all information presented on the cockpit display units to 
become invalid during flight. The cause of the malfunctioning cockpit 
display units has been attributed to a failure of a network interface 
controller (NIC) for the avionics standard communication bus (ASCB), 
which causes a loss of ASCB synchronization. The ASCB failure could 
result in a loss of data from all four of the cockpit display units, 
and loss of all radio communications (with the exception of VHF 
emergency frequency and last frequency used), primary navigation 
instruments, autopilot, auto-throttle, central alerting system, aural 
alarms, and normal braking (on Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes 
only). These losses could reduce the flightcrew's situational 
awareness, increase flightcrew workload, and consequently reduce the 
ability to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.

Other Relevant Rulemaking

    We have determined that since the Honeywell Primus Epic system is 
also installed on Gulfstream Model GV-SP series airplanes and on 
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model ERJ 170 series 
airplanes, those airplanes are subject to an unsafe condition similar 
to that addressed in this AD. In light of that determination, we issued 
AD 2005-04-06, amendment 39-13978 (70 FR 7847, February 16, 2005) (for 
Model GV-SP series airplanes), and issued AD 2004-26-12, amendment 39-
13924 (69 FR 78300, December 30, 2004) (for Model ERJ 170 series 
airplanes), to address the unsafe condition on those airplane models. 
We may consider additional rulemaking on other airplane models having 
the Honeywell Primus Epic system that also exhibit a similar unsafe 
condition.

Relevant Service Information

    Dassault has issued Service Bulletin F2000EX-58, dated January 10, 
2005; and Service Bulletin F900EX-256, dated January 10, 2005. These 
service bulletins describe procedures for performing an inspection to 
check the integrity of the ASCB by inspecting for any faults. The 
inspection involves using a maintenance laptop computer to run a TELNET 
session.
    Dassault has also issued Temporary Change 12, dated January 26, 
2005, to the Dassault Falcon 2000EX Airplane Flight Manual, DGT88898 
(for Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes); and Temporary Change 14, 
dated January 12, 2005, to the Dassault Falcon 900EX Airplane Flight 
Manual, DGT84972 (for Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes). The 
temporary changes describe procedures for flightcrew to follow in the 
event that the information displayed on all four cockpit display units 
become invalid during flight. The procedures describe steps the 
flightcrew can perform to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display 
units, and informs the flightcrew what equipment will be unavailable 
during an ASCB failure/event.
    In addition, Dassault has issued Service Bulletin F2000EX-59, dated 
February 2, 2005; and Service Bulletin F900EX-254, dated February 2, 
2005. These service bulletins describe procedures for performing an 
avionics software upgrade to the Honeywell Primus Epic system. The 
software upgrade involves installing a new NIC and generic input/output 
(I/O) software.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The DGAC mandated 
the service information described above and issued French emergency 
airworthiness directives UF-2005-024, dated January 27, 2005; and UF-
2005-025, dated January 27, 2005; to ensure the continued airworthiness 
of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are 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, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are issuing this AD to prohibit dispatch with certain 
equipment inoperative; and to require revising the airplane flight 
manual (AFM) to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display units in the 
event of an avionics systems communication bus (ASCB) failure and to 
inform the flightcrew what equipment is inoperative during an ASCB 
failure. This AD also requires doing an integrity check of the ASCB for 
any faults and corrective action if necessary, and installing an 
avionics software update to the Honeywell Primus Epic system. This AD 
requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Between 
this AD and the Service Information'' and ``Differences Between this AD 
and the French Airworthiness Directives.''

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

    Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced service bulletins describe procedures 
for submitting a sheet recording compliance with the service bulletin, 
this AD will not require those actions. We do not need this information 
from operators.
    The service bulletins F2000EX-58, dated January 10, 2005; and 
F900EX-256, dated January 10, 2005; specify that you may contact the 
manufacturer for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but 
this AD requires you to repair those conditions using a method that we 
or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent) 
approve. In light of the type of repair that would be required to 
address the unsafe condition, and consistent with existing bilateral 
airworthiness

[[Page 9855]]

agreements, we have determined that, for this AD, a repair we or the 
EASA approve would be acceptable for compliance with this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the French Airworthiness Directives

    Although the French airworthiness directives specify a compliance 
time of 24 hours after the effective date of the French airworthiness 
directive for the AFM revisions, we specify a compliance time of 72 
hours after the effective date of this AD. We find that this will 
prevent airplanes from being grounded unnecessarily without adversely 
affecting the safety of the airplanes.
    Although the French airworthiness directives require operators to 
revise the Abnormal Procedures of the AFMs, this AD requires the 
Limitations section to be revised. The Limitations section of the AFM 
is the only AFM section mandated by the FAA.
    Although the French airworthiness directives require revising the 
AFM by inserting operational limitations on landing with published go-
around flight paths and on take-off in a certain runway visual range 
condition, we do not require that action. This decision is based on our 
determination that those operational limitation revisions are not 
necessary.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD; therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment 
before the AD is issued is impracticable, and good cause exists to make 
this AD effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any relevant written 
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an 
address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20425; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of our docket 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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 the 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 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):

2005-04-15 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-13987. Docket No. FAA-
2005-20425; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 1, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX series 
airplanes with serial numbers 6, 28 and subsequent; and Model Falcon 
900EX series airplanes with serial numbers 97, 120 and subsequent; 
certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that an analysis and tests 
of the Honeywell Primus Epic systems installed on Model Falcon 
2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed that all information 
displayed on the cockpit display units could become invalid during 
flight. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a loss of data from 
all four of the cockpit display units, and loss of all radio 
communications (with the exception of VHF emergency frequency and 
last frequency used), primary navigation instruments, autopilot, 
auto-throttle, central alerting system, aural alarms, and normal 
braking (on Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes only). These losses 
could reduce the flightcrew's situational awareness, increase 
flightcrew workload, and consequently reduce the ability to maintain 
safe flight and landing of the airplane.

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.

Inoperative Equipment Restrictions

    (f) As of the effective date of this AD, dispatch is prohibited 
with any of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1),

[[Page 9856]]

(f)(2), (f)(3), and (f)(4) of this AD inoperative. When the actions 
required in paragraph (i) of this AD are accomplished, dispatch with 
any of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(3), 
and (f)(4) inoperative is allowed in accordance with the provisions 
and limitations specified in the Master Minimum Equipment List 
(MMEL).

    Note 1: The MMELs currently allow flight/dispatch with any or 
all of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(3), 
and (f)(4) inoperative under certain conditions. This AD supersedes 
the MMEL or the approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for any 
operator. Paragraph (i) of this AD provides the required terminating 
action for the dispatch restrictions.

    (1) Dispatch with Secondary flight display system inoperative, 
as allowed in section 34-2, item 5, of the Dassault F2000EX MMEL or 
the Dassault F900EX MMEL, as applicable, is prohibited.
    (2) Dispatch with Non-stabilized magnetic (standby) compass 
inoperative, as allowed in section 34-2, item 6, of the Dassault 
F2000EX MMEL or the Dassault F900EX MMEL, as applicable, is 
prohibited.
    (3) Dispatch with UP-DN manual regulator in pressurized flight 
inoperative, as allowed in section 21-5, item 2, of the Dassault 
F2000EX MMEL; or in section 21-5, item 3, of the Dassault F900EX 
MMEL; as applicable; is prohibited.
    (4) Dispatch with Digital electronic engine computers (automatic 
mode) inoperative, as allowed in section 73-1, item 1, sub-item 1, 
of the Dassault F900EX MMEL is prohibited.

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (g) Within 72 hours after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the AFM as required in paragraphs (g)(1) 
and (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) Revise Dassault Falcon F2000EX AFM, DGT88898, by inserting a 
copy of Dassault Temporary Change (TC) 12, dated January 26, 2005.
    (2) Revise Dassault Falcon 900EX AFM, DGT84972, by inserting a 
copy of Dassault TC 14, dated January 12, 2005.

Inspection

    (h) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, do an 
inspection to check the integrity of the avionics systems 
communication bus (ASCB) for any faults, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-58, 
dated January 10, 2005; or Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-256, 
dated January 10, 2005; as applicable. If any fault is found during 
the inspection, before further flight, repair the ASCB in accordance 
with a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent).

Terminating Action

    (i) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, install 
an avionics software update to the Honeywell Primus Epic system in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service 
Bulletin F2000EX-59, dated February 2, 2005; or Dassault Service 
Bulletin F900FX-254, dated February 2, 2005; as applicable. Doing 
this software update ends the requirements of paragraph (h) of this 
AD, and the dispatch restrictions and AFM revisions required by 
paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD may be removed.

No Reporting Requirement

    (j) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify 
to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include 
that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance 
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (l) French emergency airworthiness directives UF-2005-024, dated 
January 27, 2005; and UF-2005-025, dated January 27, 2005; also 
address the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) 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. (Only the title and List of 
Temporary Changes pages of Dassault Temporary Changes 12 and 14 
contain the document issue date; no other page of these documents 
contain this information.) 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. You can review copies at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; or 
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.

              Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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          Service information                         Date
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Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-58..  January 10, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-59..  February 2, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-254..  February 2, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-256..  January 10, 2005.
Dassault Falcon 2000EX Temporary        January 26, 2005.
 Change 12.
Dassault Falcon 900EX Temporary Change  January 12, 2005.
 14.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 14, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3559 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P