[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 236 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65394-65396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29398]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM420; Notice No. 25-09-13-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Falcon Model 2000EX; 
Autobraking System

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Dassault 
Aviation Falcon Model 2000EX airplane. This airplane will have a novel 
or unusual design features associated with the autobraking system for 
use during landing. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not 
contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design 
feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional 
safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to 
establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the 
existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: We must receive your comments by January 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You must mail two copies of your comments to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attn: Rules 
Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM420, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington,

[[Page 65395]]

98057-3356. You may deliver two copies to the Transport Airplane 
Directorate at the above address. You must mark your comments: Docket 
No. NM420. You can inspect comments in the Rules Docket weekdays, 
except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe/Cabin 
Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 227-1178; facsimile (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. We ask 
that you send us two copies of written comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning these special conditions. You can inspect the docket before 
and after the comment closing date. If you wish to review the docket in 
person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    We will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing 
date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is 
possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change 
these special conditions based on the comments we receive.
    If you want us to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which you have written the docket number. We will stamp the date on 
the postcard and mail it back to you.

Background

    On July 1, 2008, Dassault Aviation applied for a change to Type 
Certificate (TC) No. A50NM to install an automatic braking system in 
the Falcon Model 2000EX airplane. This is a pilot-selectable function 
that allows earlier maximum braking at landing without pilot pedal 
input. When the autobrake system is armed before landing, it 
automatically commands maximum braking at main wheels touchdown. Normal 
procedures remain unchanged and call for manual braking after nose 
wheel touchdown.
    The current Federal Aviation Regulations do not contain adequate 
requirements to address the potentially higher structural loads that 
could result from this type of automatic braking system. Title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.471 through 25.511 address ground 
handling loads, but do not contain a specific ``pitchover'' requirement 
addressing the loading on the nose gear, the nose gear surrounding 
structure, and the forward fuselage. The Dassault autobraking system, 
which applies maximum braking at the main wheels before the nose gear 
touches down, will cause a high nose gear sink rate, and potentially 
higher gear and airframe loads. Therefore, the FAA has determined that 
a special condition is needed. The special condition requires that the 
airplane be designed to withstand the loads resulting from maximum 
braking, taking into account the effects of the automatic braking 
system.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec.  21.101, Dassault Aviation must show 
that the Falcon Model 2000EX, as changed, continues to meet the 
applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in 
TC No. A50NM, or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of 
application for the change. The regulations incorporated by reference 
in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the ``original type 
certification basis.'' The regulations incorporated by reference in TC 
No. A50NM are as follows:
    Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 as amended by 
Amendments 25-1 through 25-69. In addition, Dassault Aviation has 
elected to comply with the following amendments:
     Amendment 25-71 for Sec.  25.365(e);
     Amendment 25-72 for Sec. Sec.  25.783(g) and 25.177;
     Amendment 25-75 for Sec.  25.729(e);
     Amendment 25-79 for Sec.  25.811(e)(2);
     Amendment 25-80 for Sec.  25.1316.
    In addition, the certification basis includes certain special 
conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections of the applicable 
part that are not relevant to this proposed special condition.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate 
safety standards for the Falcon Model 2000EX because of a novel or 
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the 
provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Falcon Model 2000EX must comply with the fuel vent and 
exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise 
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec. Sec.  11.19 
and 11.38, and they become part of the type-certification basis under 
Sec.  21.101.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, or should any other model already 
included on the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the 
same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions 
would also apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Falcon Model 2000EX will incorporate the following novel or 
unusual design features:
    The airplane will be equipped with an automatic braking system, 
which is a pilot-selectable function that allows earlier maximum 
braking at landing without pilot pedal input. When the autobrake system 
is armed before landing, it automatically commands maximum braking at 
main wheels touchdown. This will cause a high nose gear sink rate, and 
potentially higher gear and airframe loads than would occur with a 
traditional braking system. Therefore, the FAA has determined that a 
special condition is needed.

Discussion

    The special condition defines a landing pitchover condition that 
takes into account the effects of the automatic braking system. The 
special condition defines the airplane configuration, speeds, and other 
parameters necessary to develop airframe and nose gear loads for this 
condition. The special condition requires that the airplane be designed 
to support the resulting limit and ultimate loads as defined in Sec.  
25.305.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Falcon Model 2000EX. Should Dassault Aviation apply at a later date for 
a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating 
the same novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would 
apply to that model as well.

[[Page 65396]]

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Proposed Special Condition

0
Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special condition as part of the type certification basis for 
Dassault Aviation Falcon Model 2000EX airplanes.

Landing Pitchover Condition

    A landing pitchover condition must be addressed that takes into 
account the effect of the autobrake system. The airplane is assumed to 
be at the design maximum landing weight, or at the maximum weight 
allowed with the autobrake system on. The airplane is assumed to land 
in a tail-down attitude and at the speeds defined in Sec.  25.481. 
Following main gear contact, the airplane is assumed to rotate about 
the main gear wheels at the highest pitch rate allowed by the autobrake 
system. This is considered a limit load condition from which ultimate 
loads must also be determined. Loads must be determined for critical 
fuel and payload distributions and centers of gravity. Nose gear loads, 
as well as airframe loads, must be determined. The airplane must 
support these loads as described in Sec.  25.305.

Michael J. Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-29398 Filed 12-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P