[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 62 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16787-16789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0364; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-281-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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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:

    During a flight test performed on an EASy aircraft, subsequently 
to an air data probe failure, the crew realized that the Flight path 
vectors and the Vertical speeds that were displayed on pilot's and 
co-pilot's PDU (primary display unit) were identically wrong.
    A review of the EASy architecture reveals that * * * One single 
ADS unflagged air data error may lead to the computation and display 
on both pilot's and co-pilot's display units of unnoticed and 
misleading flight information.
    At take-off or during go-around this situation might 
considerably reduce flight safety.

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 April 30, 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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
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

[[Page 16788]]

ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0364; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NM-281-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 2006-0157, dated June 7, 2006 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    During a flight test performed on an EASy aircraft, subsequently 
to an air data probe failure, the crew realized that the Flight path 
vectors and the Vertical speeds that were displayed on pilot's and 
co-pilot's PDU (primary display unit) were identically wrong.
    A review of the EASy architecture reveals that the current 
wiring of Air Data System (ADS) and IRS (inertial reference system) 
units is not compliant with the certified safety objectives. All IRS 
primary inputs are wired to the same General Purpose (GP) Bus and 
thus basic requirements for ADS segregation are not met. One single 
ADS unflagged air data error may lead to the computation and display 
on both pilot's and co-pilot's display units of unnoticed and 
misleading flight information.
    At take-off or during go-around this situation might 
considerably reduce flight safety.
    This AD mandates a wiring modification of IRS [no.] 2 and a test 
of General Purpose bus IRS entry per application of SB-F2000EX-89 on 
Falcon 2000EX EASy and per application of SB-F900EX-274 on Falcon 
900EX EASy.
    Furthermore in order to maintain ADS parameter segregation 
against possible failures, this AD also requires F2000EX EASy and 
F900EX EASy operators to comply with the modifications made to the 
respective Chapter 5.40 of the Aircraft Maintenance Manuals that 
contain an additional periodic functional test of the IRS GP Bus I/O 
(input/output).
    Dispatch conditions under MMEL (master minimum equipment list) 
in case of an IRS2 failure are modified after implementation of the 
wiring change.

The corrective actions involve checking the integrity of the GP bus and 
IRS2, and repairing them as applicable. You may obtain further 
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Dassault has issued Service Bulletins F2000EX-89, dated March 17, 
2006, and F900EX-274, dated March 17, 2006. Dassault has also issued 
Section 34-209, dated March 2007, of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASY/
900DX Maintenance Manual; and section 34-209, dated May 2007, of the 
Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy Maintenance Manual. 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 about 62 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 3 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per 
work-hour. Required parts would cost a negligible amount per product. 
Where the service information lists required parts costs that are 
covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge 
for these costs. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected 
parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $14,880, or $240 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.
    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,

[[Page 16789]]

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-2008-0364; Directorate Identifier 
2006-NM-281-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by April 30, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34: 
Navigation.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    During a flight test performed on an EASy aircraft, subsequently 
to an air data probe failure, the crew realized that the Flight path 
vectors and the Vertical speeds that were displayed on pilot's and 
co-pilot's PDU (primary display unit) were identically wrong.
    A review of the EASy architecture reveals that the current 
wiring of Air Data System (ADS) and IRS (inertial reference system) 
units is not compliant with the certified safety objectives. All IRS 
primary inputs are wired to the same General Purpose (GP) Bus and 
thus basic requirements for ADS segregation are not met. One single 
ADS unflagged air data error may lead to the computation and display 
on both pilot's and co-pilot's display units of unnoticed and 
misleading flight information.
    At take-off or during go-around this situation might 
considerably reduce flight safety.
    This AD mandates a wiring modification of IRS [no.] 2 and a test 
of General Purpose bus IRS entry per application of SB-F2000EX-89 on 
Falcon 2000EX EASy and per application of SB-F900EX-274 on Falcon 
900EX EASy.
    Furthermore in order to maintain ADS parameter segregation 
against possible failures, this AD also requires F2000EX EASy and 
F900EX EASy operators to comply with the modifications made to the 
respective Chapter 5.40 of the Aircraft Maintenance Manuals that 
contain an additional periodic functional test of the IRS GP Bus I/O 
(input/output).
    Dispatch conditions under MMEL (master minimum equipment list) 
in case of an IRS2 failure are modified after implementation of the 
wiring change.
    The corrective actions involve checking the integrity of the GP 
bus and IRS2, and repairing them as applicable.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) For Model Falcon 2000EX airplanes without Dassault 
Modification M2758 and Model Falcon 900EX airplanes without Dassault 
Modification M5143 in the applicability range: Within 3 months after 
the effective date of this AD, do the IRS2 wiring modification and 
test the GP (general purpose) bus IRS entry. Do all actions in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service 
Bulletin F2000EX-89, dated March 17, 2006; or Dassault Service 
Bulletin F900EX-274, dated March 17, 2006; as applicable. Repeat the 
test at intervals not to exceed 5,000 flight hours. If the GP bus 
IRS entry fails any test, before further flight, do all applicable 
corrective actions in accordance with the procedures in Section 34-
209, dated March 2007, of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASY/900DX 
Maintenance Manual; or Section 34-209, dated May 2007, of the 
Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy Maintenance Manual; as applicable.
    (2) For Model Falcon 2000EX airplanes with Dassault Modification 
M2758 and Model Falcon 900EX airplanes with Dassault Modification 
M5143 in the applicability range: Within 5,000 flight hours after 
date of issuance of the original French standard airworthiness 
certificate or the date of issuance of the original French export 
certificate of airworthiness, or within 3 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do a test of the GP bus IRS 
entry in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault 
Service Bulletin F2000EX-89, dated March 17, 2006; or Dassault 
Service Bulletin F900EX-274, dated March 17, 2006; as applicable. 
Repeat the test at intervals not to exceed 5,000 flight hours. If 
the GP bus IRS entry fails any test, before further flight, do the 
corrective actions in accordance with the procedures in Section 34-
209, dated March 2007, of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASY/900DX 
Maintenance Manual; or Section 34-209, dated May 2007, of the 
Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy Maintenance Manual; as applicable.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows:
    (1) Where the MCAI specifies to do a test of the GP bus IRS 
entry in accordance with Chapter 5.40 of the applicable Dassault 
Maintenance Manual and does not specify a corrective action, we 
require those corrective actions to be done in accordance with 
Section 34-209, dated March 2007, of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASY/
900DX Maintenance Manual; or Section 34-209, dated May 2007, of the 
Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy Maintenance Manual; as applicable.
    (2) The MCAI specified to revise the applicable Dassault MMEL by 
incorporating Dassault Temporary Change 4, dated June 15, 2006, to 
the Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy MMEL (for Model F2000EX EASy 
airplanes); and Dassault Temporary Change 3, dated June 15, 2006, to 
the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy MMEL (for Model F900EX EASy 
airplanes); as applicable. However, the FAA-approved MMEL (which is 
required to be used by operators) has been revised to include the 
information specified in the Dassault temporary changes. Therefore, 
we have not included a requirement for this revision in this AD.

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, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
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, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 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 2006-0157, dated June 7, 2006; Section 34-
209, dated March 2007, of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASY/900DX 
Maintenance Manual; Section 34-209, dated May 2007, of the Dassault 
Falcon 2000EX EASy Maintenance Manual; and Dassault Service 
Bulletins F2000EX-89 and F900EX-274, both dated March 17, 2006; for 
related information.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 21, 2008.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-6521 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]
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