[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25417-25419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11679]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0496; Product Identifier 2018-NM-031-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 2000 and FALCON 2000EX 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of metallic debris 
found in the wing slat piccolo tubes; investigation revealed that the 
debris originated from the flow guide of the ball joint of the wing 
anti-ice valve. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections 
for metallic debris and damage of the flow guide of the ball joint of 
the wing anti-ice valve, and related investigative 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 July 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 service 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://

[[Page 25418]]

www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0496; 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, 2200 South 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226.

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-2018-0496; 
Product Identifier 2018-NM-031-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

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 2018-0022, dated January 29, 2018 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault 
Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The MCAI 
states:

    Occurrences were reported on Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX 
aeroplanes, where metallic debris was found in slat piccolo tubes. 
The technical investigation revealed that debris originated from the 
flow guide of the ball joint located downstream of the wing anti-ice 
valve. It was also determined that small debris gathers at the end 
of the piccolo tube, but larger pieces of debris may stop before, in 
the distribution piping, restricting the airflow and potentially 
leading to undetected insufficient wing anti-ice capability.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
undetected significant ice accretion on the wing, possibly resulting 
in loss of control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault Aviation 
issued Service Bulletin (SB) F2000EX-413 for Falcon 2000EX and SB 
F2000-441 for Falcon 2000, providing applicable instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive [detailed] inspections [for discrepancies including 
cracks and loss of material] of the affected ball joint and, 
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable related 
investigative and corrective actions * * *.

    Related investigative actions include, for any loss of material, 
borescope inspections of anti-ice pipes for debris, nicks, and damage. 
Corrective actions include replacing any cracked or damaged ball joint, 
and removing debris from the flow guide. 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-2018-0496.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Dassault Aviation has issued Service Bulletins F2000-441, dated 
June 20, 2017; and F2000EX-413, dated July 10, 2017. This service 
information describes procedures for repetitive inspections for 
metallic debris and damage of the flow guide of the anti-ice ball joint 
of the wing. The service information also describes procedures for 
replacing the ball joint and pipe, and performing borescope inspections 
of damaged wing anti-ice pipes and removal of any debris from the flow 
guide. 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 348 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510...........................              $0             $510         $177,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

[[Page 25419]]

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2018-0496; Product Identifier 
2018-NM-031-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 16, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and 
FALCON 2000EX airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial 
numbers equipped with any anti-ice pipe having part number (P/N) 
F2MA724561A1 or P/N F2MA724561A2, except airplanes on which Dassault 
Modification (mod) M5000 or Dassault mod M5001 has been embodied in 
production.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 30, Ice and Rain 
Protection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of metallic debris found in the 
wing slat piccolo tubes; investigation revealed that the debris 
originated from the flow guide of the ball joint of the wing anti-
ice valve. We are issuing this AD to address restricted airflow of 
the piccolo tubes, leading to insufficient wing anti-ice capability 
and significant undetected ice accretion on the wing, which could 
result in loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Repetitive Inspections and Corrective Actions

    Within 25 months after the effective date of this AD: Perform a 
detailed inspection for discrepancies of the flow guide of the ball 
joint located downstream of the wing anti-ice valve, and do all 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Aviation 
Service Bulletin F2000-441, dated June 20, 2017; or Dassault 
Aviation Service Bulletin F2000EX-413, dated July 10, 2017; as 
applicable. Repeat the detailed inspection thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 25 months. Do all applicable corrective actions before 
further flight.

(h) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information identified in paragraph (g) of 
this AD specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, 
this AD does not include that requirement.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (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]. 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 
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 2018-0022, dated January 29, 2018, 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-2018-0496.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, 
Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3226.
    (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, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 22, 2018.
James Cashdollar,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11679 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P