[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8807-8810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0117; Product Identifier 2017-NM-104-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-01-
07, which applies to all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON 
airplanes, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model 
MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, 
and 20-F5 airplanes; and MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. AD 2017-01-07 
requires a functional test or check of the main entry door closure and 
warning system, and applicable door closing inspections, adjustments, 
operational tests, and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued 
AD 2017-01-07, we have determined that the required actions must be 
repetitively performed to ensure continued safety. This proposed AD 
would require repetitive door closing inspections, adjustments, 
operational tests, 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 April 16, 2018.

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

[[Page 8808]]

information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th 
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

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-2018-
0117; 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 NPRM, 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 Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, Transport 
Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone: 206-231-3226; fax: 206-231-3398.

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-2018-0117; 
Product Identifier 2017-NM-104-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

    We issued AD 2017-01-07, Amendment 39-18774 (82 FR 1595, January 6, 
2017) (``AD 2017-01-07''), for all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET 
FALCON airplanes, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; 
Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 
20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes; and MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. AD 2017-
01-07 requires a functional test or check of the main entry door 
closure and warning system, and applicable door closing inspections, 
adjustments, operational tests, and corrective actions if necessary. AD 
2017-01-07 resulted from a report that, during approach for landing, 
the main entry door detached from an airplane. We issued AD 2017-01-07 
to detect and correct defective crew/passenger doors. Such a condition 
could result in the in-flight opening or detachment of the crew/
passenger door, which could result in loss of control of the airplane 
and injury to persons on the ground.

Actions Since AD 2017-01-07 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2017-01-07, we have determined that repetitive 
door closing inspections, adjustments, operational tests, and 
corrective actions if necessary, must be repetitively performed to 
ensure continued safety.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2017-0123, dated July 20, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN 
JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 
airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 
airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During approach for landing, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, a 
MF20-D5 lost the main entry door (MED). The flight crew maintained 
control of the aeroplane to land uneventfully. The results of the 
preliminary technical investigations concluded that the cause of 
this event could be either a broken cable, or an unlocked safety 
catch, associated with one or two deficient micro switches.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to in-
flight opening and/or detachment of the MED, possibly resulting in 
loss of control of the aeroplane, and/or injury to persons on the 
ground.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) F20-789, SB F200-133 and SB MF50-531, 
providing instructions for inspection/adjustment, and an operational 
test of the MED closure. Consequently, EASA issued AD 2015-0007 
[which corresponds to FAA AD 2017-01-07] to require a one-time 
accomplishment of a functional test/check of the MED closure/warning 
system. It also required [a general visual] inspection and 
operational test of the MED [including the control and latching 
mechanisms] and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable 
corrective action(s).
    Since that [EASA] AD was issued, EASA determined that the 
inspection and operational test of the MED must be repeated to 
ensure continued safety.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains the 
requirements of EASA AD 2015-0007, which is superseded, and 
additionally requires repetitive inspections and operational tests 
of the MED.

    Corrective actions include adjusting the telescopic rod bolts on 
the door until the clearance between the lower part of the door and the 
fuselage is within the specified tolerances. The corrective actions for 
the control and latching mechanisms include adjusting components and 
replacing damaged components (including pull latches, microswitches, 
pulleys, and cables). Signs of damage include cracks, corrosion, wear, 
and distortion. 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-2018-0117.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Dassault Aviation has issued the following service information.
     Dassault Service Bulletin F20-789, also referred to as 
789, dated December 9, 2014.
     Dassault Service Bulletin F50-531, also referred to as 
531, dated December 9, 2014.
     Dassault Service Bulletin F200-133, also referred to as 
133, dated December 9, 2014.
    This service information describes procedures for inspections, 
adjustments, and operational tests of certain doors and corrective 
actions. These documents are distinct since they apply to different 
airplane models. 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 these 
same type designs.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 392 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.

[[Page 8809]]

    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections/adjustments/           4 work-hours x $85               $0  $340...............  $133,280.
 operational tests (retained        per hour = $340.
 actions from AD
 2017[dash]01[dash]07).
Inspections/adjustments/           4 work-hours x $85                0  $340 per inspection  $133,280 per
 operational tests (new proposed    per hour = $340                      cycle.               inspection cycle.
 action).                           per inspection
                                    cycle.
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    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions 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.
    This proposed AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated 
by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as 
authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, 
issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and 
Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the 
Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable 
to transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight 
Division.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2017-01-07, Amendment 39-18774 (82 FR 1595, January 6, 2017), and 
adding the following new AD:

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2018-0117; Product Identifier 
2017-NM-104-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 16, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2017-01-07, Amendment 39-18774 (82 FR 1595, 
January 6, 2017) (``AD 2017-01-07'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
through (c)(4) of this AD, certificated in any category, all serial 
numbers.
    (1) Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON 
SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes.
    (2) Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes.
    (3) Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, 
and 20-F5 airplanes.
    (4) Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating that during approach 
for landing, the main entry door detached from an airplane. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct defective crew/passenger 
doors. Such a condition could result in the in-flight opening or 
detachment of the crew/passenger door, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane and injury to persons on the ground.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Main Entry/Passenger/Crew Door Closing Inspections, 
Adjustments, and Operational Tests and Corrective Actions, With No 
Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 
2017-01-07, with no changes. Within 330 flight hours or 13 months, 
whichever occurs first after February 10, 2017 (the effective date 
of AD 2017-01-07), unless already done: Do the applicable door 
closing inspections, adjustments, and operational tests, and do all 
applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the applicable service information identified in 
paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD. Do all applicable 
corrective actions before further flight.
    (1) For Model FAN JET FALCON airplanes; Model FAN JET FALCON 
SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 
20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes: Dassault Service Bulletin F20-
789, also referred to as 789, dated December 9, 2014.

[[Page 8810]]

    (2) For Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes: Dassault Service 
Bulletin F200-133, also referred to as 133, dated December 9, 2014.
    (3) For Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes: Dassault Service 
Bulletin F50-531, also referred to as 531, dated December 9, 2014.

(h) New Requirement of This AD: Repetitive Main Entry/Passenger/Crew 
Door Closing Inspections, Adjustments, and Operational Tests and 
Corrective Actions

    Within 72 months after accomplishing the actions required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
72 months, repeat the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, 
and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service information 
identified in paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD. Do all 
applicable corrective actions before further flight.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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 Section, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (i) 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.
    (ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2017-01-07, Amendment 39-
18774 (82 FR 1595, January 6, 2017), are approved as AMOCs for the 
corresponding provisions of this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the effective date of 
this AD, 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 Section, Transport Standards 
Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 
Dassault Aviation's EASA Design Organization Approval (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 AD 2017-0123, dated July 20, 2017, 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-2018-0117.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards 
Branch, FAA, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3226; fax 206-231-3398.
    (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 Standards Branch, FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 20, 2018.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04150 Filed 2-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P