[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32498-32501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14592]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0694; Directorate Identifier 2017-NM-007-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 indicating that fuselage panels were 
manufactured with

[[Page 32499]]

defects that could reduce panel fatigue limits. This proposed AD would 
require a one-time inspection of the affected panels and corrective 
actions 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 August 28, 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-2017-
0694; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0694; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-NM-007-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 2016-0250, dated December 15, 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:

    A few pockets of fuselage Section T5 lateral panels were 
manufactured with defects in certain chemically-milled profiles. The 
technical investigation concluded that the fatigue limit of the 
affected panels might be reduced, depending on the defect 
characteristics.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
crack propagation, possibly resulting in reduced structural 
integrity of the fuselage.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, DA published Service 
Bulletin (SB) F7X-042 providing inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [detailed] inspection of the chemically-milled profiles of the 
pockets of the Section T5 fuselage lateral panels and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). This 
[EASA] AD also requires, for some aeroplanes, the installation of a 
stiffener on the forward pocket.

    Applicable corrective actions include repair, if necessary. 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-2017-
0694.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-042, Revision 1, dated May 
3, 2016. This service information describes the inspection of the 
chemically milled profiles of the pockets of the Section T5 fuselage 
lateral panels and the installation of a stiffener on the forward 
pocket on affected airplanes. 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 4 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Cost on U.S.
            Action                  Labor cost       Parts cost       Cost per  product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panel inspections.............  Up to 10 work-                 $0  Up to $850............  Up to $3,400.
                                 hours x $85 per
                                 hour = $850.
Stiffener installation (up to   2 work-hours x              8,769  $8,939................  Up to $26,817.
 3 airplanes).                   $85 per hour =
                                 $170.
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[[Page 32500]]

    According to the manufacturer, all 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 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-2017-0694; Directorate Identifier 
2017-NM-007-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 28, 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 through 19 
inclusive, except S/Ns 3 and 8.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 51, Structure.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating that a few pockets 
of fuselage Section T5 lateral panels were manufactured with defects 
that could reduce the fatigue limit of the affected panels. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies of certain 
fuselage lateral panels, which could lead to crack propagation and 
possible reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection

    Within 99 months or 4,100 flight cycles, whichever occurs first, 
after the effective date of this AD, do a detailed inspection to 
measure the pocket depth of the Section T5 fuselage lateral panels, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault 
Service Bulletin 7X-042, Revision 1, dated May 3, 2016.

(h) Repair

    During the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if 
any discrepancy is found, as defined in Accomplishment Instructions 
of Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-042, Revision 1, dated May 3, 2016, 
before further flight, contact the FAA, the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), or Dassault Aviation's EASA Design Organization 
Approval (DOA) for approved repair instructions, and, within the 
compliance time specified in those instructions, accomplish the 
repair accordingly.

(i) Installation

    For airplanes having S/Ns 16, 17, and 19: Within 99 months or 
4,100 flight cycles, whichever occurs first, after the effective 
date of this AD, install a stiffener on the forward pocket of 
Section T5 fuselage lateral panels, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-042, 
Revision 1, dated May 3, 2016.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by 
paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD, if those actions were performed 
before the effective date of this AD using Dassault Service Bulletin 
7X-042, dated January 3, 2011.

(k) 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 manager of the 
International Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (l)(2) of this AD. 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.
    (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 DOA. If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(l) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2016-0250, dated December 15, 
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-2017-0694.
    (2) For more information about this AD, 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.
    (3) 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.


[[Page 32501]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 29, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14592 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P