[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 93645-93647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30029]



[[Page 93645]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9504; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-107-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 reports that during the assembly of structural elements 
on some airplanes, lack of established procedures and tools caused 
boring and torqueing defects to be present at some locations. This 
proposed AD would require a detailed visual inspection of bore holes 
for defects, replacement of bolts, and repair if necessary. We are 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 6, 
2017.

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.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above 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-
9504; 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-2016-9504; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-107-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 EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0116, dated June 16, 2016 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault 
Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During the assembly of structural elements on some aeroplanes, 
lack of established procedures and tools caused boring and torqueing 
defects to be present at some locations on the foot of frame (FR) 36 
and FR39. Dassault Aviation (DA) identified the individual 
aeroplanes that are potentially affected by this production 
deficiency. Quality control actions have been implemented to ensure 
that new aeroplanes, from s/n 183, cannot be affected by this 
defect.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, would adversely 
affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires [a 
detailed visual] inspection of bore holes [for defects] and 
replacement of bolts at FR36 and FR39 and, depending on findings, 
accomplishment of a repair.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, DA published Service 
Bulletin (SB) F7X-379 to provide corrective action instructions.

    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-
9504.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-379, dated February 29, 
2016. The service information describes procedures for a detailed 
visual inspection of bore holes at FR36 and FR39 for defects, 
replacement of bolts at FR36 and FR39, and repair. 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 41 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 93646]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
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Inspection and Replacement..........  6 work-hours x $85 per              $26             $536          $21,976
                                       hour = $510.
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    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition repair specified in this proposed 
AD.

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);
    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-2016-9504; Directorate Identifier 
2016-NM-107-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 6, 2017.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes, 
certificated in any category, serial numbers (S/Ns) 2, 5, and 8 
through 182 inclusive; except S/Ns 141, 148, 149, 157, 159, 166, 
170, 171, 174, 175, and 177 through 180 inclusive.

 (d) Subject

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

 (e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports that during the assembly of 
structural elements on some airplanes, lack of established 
procedures and tools caused boring and torqueing defects to be 
present at some locations on the foot of frame (FR) 36 and FR39. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct defects in the bore holes 
at FR36 and FR39 that could adversely affect the structural 
integrity of the airplane.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Inspection of Bore Holes

    At the applicable time identified in paragraphs (g)(1) or (g)(2) 
of this AD, remove the sheer bolts at FR36 and FR39, left hand and 
right hand, as identified in Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-379, dated 
February 29, 2016, and do a detailed visual inspection of the bore 
holes for defects, in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-
379, dated February 29, 2016.
    (1) For airplanes with S/N 2 and 5: Before exceeding 4,100 
flight cycles after the date of release to service after the first 
C-Check or within 3 months from the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later.
    (2) For airplanes other than those identified in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD: Before exceeding 4,100 flight cycles since the 
date of issuance of the original certificate of airworthiness or the 
original export certificate of airworthiness or within 3 months from 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

 (h) Repair of Bore Holes and Bolt Replacement

    (1) If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 
AD, any defect is found, before further flight, repair the affected 
areas, and replace the sheer bolts at FR36 and FR39, in accordance 
with Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-379, dated February 29, 2016; 
except where Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-379, dated February 29, 
2016, specifies to contact Dassault Aviation for instructions, 
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).
    (2) If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 
AD, no defect is found, before further flight, replace the sheer 
bolts at FR36 and FR39, in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin 
7X-379, dated February 29, 2016.

 (i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, 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. 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.
    (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 the EASA; 
or Dassault Aviation's EASA

[[Page 93647]]

DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-
authorized signature.

 (j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0116, dated June 16, 2016, 
for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD docket on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9504.
    (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 December 6, 2016.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30029 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P