[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10535-10537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04295]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3987; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-165-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation 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 
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This proposed AD 
was prompted by a report of improperly drilled bores, located on upper 
and lower stiffener joints to the web at a certain frame. This proposed 
AD would require a one-time inspection of the bores, and repair if 
necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct an 
unsatisfactory bore that can adversely affect the structural integrity 
of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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.

[[Page 10536]]

     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Dassault 
Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box 2000, South 
Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet: http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3987; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 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 ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-3987; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-165-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 Union, has issued 
Airworthiness Directive 2015-0204, dated October 8, 2015, (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault 
Aviation FALCON 7X airplanes. The MCAI states:

    On the assembly line of Falcon 7X airplanes, defects were 
detected on left hand and right hand engine pylons. A quality review 
revealed that bores located on upper and lower stiffener joints to 
the web at pylon Frame 41 were improperly drilled. Fettlings of 
borings, for fixing diameter 4 mm and 5 mm, were found ovalized, too 
deep and having irregular surface qualities under the head of 
fixing. Dassault Aviation identified the individual airplanes that 
are potentially affected by this production deficiency.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, would adversely 
affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition Dassault Aviation 
published Service Bulletin (SB) 7X-346 to provide corrective action 
instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [detailed] visual [and rototest] inspection for unsatisfactory 
bores and, depending on findings, repair of affected stiffener 
bores.

    A bore is not satisfactory if it has any surface defects greater 
than or equal to 0.5 mm or if any chamfer dimension or edge distance 
value is not within the dimensions specified in Dassault Aviation 
Service Bulletin 7X-346, dated April 24, 2015. You may examine the MCAI 
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3987.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Dassault Aviation has issued Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-346 dated 
April 24, 2015. The service information describes procedures for a one-
time inspection of the bores on stiffeners at Frame 41 on the engine 
pylons, and repair if necessary.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 55 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 66 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $308,550, or 
$5,610 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 20 work-hours and require parts costing $149, for a cost of 
$1,849 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this action.
    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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

[[Page 10537]]

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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2016-3987; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NM-165-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 15, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes, 
certificated in any category, manufacturer serial numbers 1 through 
221 inclusive, except serial numbers 182 and 220.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of improperly drilled bores, 
located on upper and lower stiffener joints to the web at a certain 
frame. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct an 
unsatisfactory bore that can adversely affect the structural 
integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspect Bores

    Within 4,000 flight cycles or 98 months, whichever occurs first 
since date of issuance of the original airworthiness certificate or 
date of issuance of the original export certificate of 
airworthiness, do a detailed visual and rototest inspection of the 
bores, located on upper and lower stiffener joints to the web at 
pylon Frame 41, to determine if the bores are not satisfactory, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service 
Bulletin 7X-346, dated April 24, 2015.

(h) Repair

    If, during the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 
it is determined that any bore is not satisfactory: Before further 
flight, repair affected bores, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-346, dated April 24, 
2015, except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD.

(i) Exceptions

    Where the Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-346, dated April 24, 
2015, specifies to contact Dassault Aviation: Before further flight, 
repair using a method approved by the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Dassault Aviation's EASA Design 
Organization Approval (DOA).

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom 
Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1137; fax 425-227-1149. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected]. Before using any 
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or 
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight 
standards district office/certificate holding district office. The 
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or EASA; or 
Dassault Aviation's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval 
must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2015-0204, dated October 8, 2015, for related 
information. This MCAI may be found on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2016-3987.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box 2000, 
South Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet: 
http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 19, 2016.
Dorr M. Anderson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04295 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P