[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 15, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42746-42749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15126]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 136 / Wednesday, July 15, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 42746]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0582; Product Identifier 2020-NM-059-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2014-26-07 and AD 2019-07-01 which apply to Dassault Aviation Model FAN 
JET FALCON and FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes. AD 
2019-07-01 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive 
airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements. Since the FAA 
issued AD 2019-07-01, the FAA has determined that new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD 
would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness 
limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 31, 
2020.

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 https://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For EASA material identified in this proposed AD that will be 
incorporated by reference (IBR), contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 
3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 89990 1000; email 
[email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR 
material on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.
    For the Dassault material identified in this proposed AD that will 
continue to be incorporated by reference, contact Dassault Falcon Jet 
Corporation, Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 
07606; telephone 201-440-6700; internet https://www.dassaultfalcon.com. 
You may view this IBR material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2020-0582.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0582; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0582; 
Product Identifier 2020-NM-059-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this NPRM based on those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments that are received, without 
change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information you provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing 
each substantive verbal contact the FAA receives about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

[[Page 42747]]

Discussion

    The FAA issued AD 2019-07-01, Amendment 39-19612 (84 FR 16390, 
April 19, 2019) (``AD 2019-07-01''), for certain Dassault Aviation 
Model FAN JET FALCON and FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G 
airplanes. AD 2019-07-01 requires revising the existing maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements. AD 
2019-07-01 resulted from a determination of the need for a revision to 
the airplane airworthiness limitations to introduce changes to the 
maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. The FAA issued 
AD 2019-07-01 to address, among other things, fatigue cracking and 
damage in principal structural elements; such fatigue cracking and 
damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
    AD 2019-07-01 specifies that accomplishing the revision required by 
paragraph (g) of that AD terminates all requirements of AD 2014-26-07, 
Amendment 39-18058 (80 FR 2815, January 21, 2015) (``AD 2014-26-07'').

Actions Since AD 2019-07-01 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2019-07-01, the FAA has determined that new 
or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary.
    The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0141, dated June 17, 2019 
(``EASA AD 2019-0141'') (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for certain Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON and 
FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes.
    This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address, among other things, fatigue cracking and 
damage in principal structural elements; such fatigue cracking and 
damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. 
See the MCAI for additional background information.

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2019-0141 describes new or more restrictive airworthiness 
limitations for airplane structures and safe life limits.
    This AD would also require Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, 
DGT 131028, Revision 17, dated September 2017, of the Dassault Aviation 
Falcon 20 Maintenance Manual, which the Director of the Federal 
Register approved for incorporation by reference as of May 24, 2019 (84 
FR 16390, April 19, 2019).
    This material 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, the FAA 
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because the FAA has 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2019-07-01. 
This proposed AD would also require revising the existing maintenance 
or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations, which are specified in EASA AD 
2019-0141 described previously, as incorporated by reference. Any 
differences with EASA AD 2019-0141 are identified as exceptions in the 
regulatory text of this AD.
    This proposed AD would require revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). 
Compliance with these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For 
airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in 
the areas addressed by this proposed AD, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance according to paragraph 
(l)(1) of this proposed AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and EASA to develop a 
process to use certain EASA ADs as the primary source of information 
for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has 
since coordinated with other manufacturers and civil aviation 
authorities (CAAs) to use this process. As a result, EASA AD 2019-0141 
will be incorporated by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed 
AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2019-0141 in its 
entirety, through that incorporation, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 
Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular 
section in the EASA AD does not mean that operators need comply only 
with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to 
``all required actions and compliance times,'' compliance with this AD 
requirement is not limited to the section titled ``Required Action(s) 
and Compliance Time(s)'' in the EASA AD.
    Service information specified in EASA AD 2019-0141 that is required 
for compliance with EASA AD 2019-0141 will be available on the internet 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0582 after the FAA final rule is published.

Airworthiness Limitation ADs Using the New Process

    The FAA's process of incorporating by reference MCAI ADs as the 
primary source of information for compliance with corresponding FAA ADs 
has been limited to certain MCAI ADs (primarily those with service 
bulletins as the primary source of information for accomplishing the 
actions required by the FAA AD). However, the FAA is now expanding the 
process to include MCAI ADs that require a change to airworthiness 
limitation documents, such as airworthiness limitation sections.
    For these ADs that incorporate by reference an MCAI AD that changes 
airworthiness limitations, the FAA requirements are unchanged. 
Operators must revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in the new 
airworthiness limitation document. The airworthiness limitations must 
be followed according to 14 CFR 91.403(c).

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 168 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this proposed AD:
    The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained 
actions from

[[Page 42748]]

AD 2019-07-01 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
    The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or 
inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, 
although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator 
to operator. In the past, the agency has estimated that this action 
takes 1 work-hour per airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance 
or inspection program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has 
determined that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-
airplane estimate. The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for 
the new proposed actions to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-
hour).

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-26-07, Amendment 39-18058 
(80 FR 2815, January 21, 2015); and AD 2019-07-01, Amendment 39-19612 
(84 FR 16390, April 19, 2019); and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2020-0582; Product Identifier 
2020-NM-059-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by August 31, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2014-26-07, Amendment 39-18058 (80 FR 2815, 
January 21, 2015) (``AD 2014-26-07''); and AD 2019-07-01, Amendment 
39-19612 (84 FR 16390, April 19, 2019) (``AD 2019-07-01'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Dassault Aviation airplanes specified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD, certificated in any category, 
as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0141, dated June 17, 2019 (``EASA AD 2019-0141'').
    (1) Model FAN JET FALCON airplanes.
    (2) Model FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more 
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address, among other things, fatigue cracking and 
damage in principal structural elements; such fatigue cracking and 
damage could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision, With No 
Changes

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2019-07-01, with no changes. Within 12 months after May 24, 2019 
(the effective date of AD 2019-07-01), revise the existing 
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the 
airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements specified in 
Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT 131028, Revision 17, 
dated September 2017, of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 20 Maintenance 
Manual. The initial compliance time for accomplishing the actions is 
at the applicable time specified in Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness 
Limitations, DGT 131028, Revision 17, dated September 2017, of the 
Dassault Aviation Falcon 20 Maintenance Manual or within 12 months 
after May 24, 2019, whichever occurs later. Where the threshold 
column in the table in paragraph B, Mandatory Maintenance 
Operations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT 131028, 
Revision 17, dated September 2017, of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 
20 Maintenance Manual specifies a compliance time in years, those 
compliance times are since the date of issuance of the original 
French or EASA airworthiness certificate or date of issuance of the 
original French or EASA export certificate of airworthiness. 
Accomplishing the maintenance or inspection program revision 
required by paragraph (i) of this AD terminates the requirements of 
this paragraph.

(h) Retained Restrictions on Alternative Actions and Intervals With a 
New Exception

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 
2019-07-01, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph 
(i) of this AD, after accomplishing the revision required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) 
or intervals may be used unless the actions or intervals are 
approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance 
with the procedures specified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.

(i) New Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision

    Except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, EASA AD 2019-0141. Accomplishing the maintenance or 
inspection program revision required by this paragraph terminates 
the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(j) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019-0141

    (1) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and 
(5) of EASA AD 2019-0141 do not apply to this AD.
    (2) Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2019-0141 specifies revising ``the 
approved AMP'' within 12 months after its effective date, but this 
AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate the ``limitations, tasks and 
associated thresholds and intervals'' specified in paragraph (3) of 
EASA AD 2019-0141 within 90 days after the effective date of this 
AD.

[[Page 42749]]

    (3) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in 
paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2019-0141 is at the applicable ``associated 
thresholds'' specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2019-0141, or 
within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later.
    (4) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2019-0141 does not apply 
to this AD.

(k) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as 
required by paragraph (i) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., 
inspections) or intervals are allowed except as specified in the 
provisions of the ``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2019-
0141.

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 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 Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (m)(4) 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 2019-07-01 are approved as 
AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of EASA AD 2019-0141 that are 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Dassault 
Aviation's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 
the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(m) Related Information

    (1) For information about EASA AD 2019-0141, contact the EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
89990 6017; email [email protected]; Internet www.easa.europa.eu. 
You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (2) For information about the Dassault material identified in 
this AD, contact Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, 
P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone 201-440-6700; 
internet https://www.dassaultfalcon.com.
    (3) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. This material may be found in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0582.
    (4) For more information about this AD, contact Tom Rodriguez, 
Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 
and fax 206-231-3226; email [email protected].

    Issued on July 8, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-15126 Filed 7-14-20; 8:45 am]
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