[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35827-35829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14440]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 144 / Wednesday, July 30, 2025 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 35827]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T;
Amendment 39-23093; AD 2025-15-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This AD was
prompted by reports of the incorrect installation of the very high
frequency omnidirectional range and localizer (VOR/LOC) antenna
coupler. This AD requires implementing an operational limitation for
Category (CAT) II and CAT III approaches, inspecting the VOR/LOC
antenna coupler, and reinstalling the VOR/LOC antenna coupler if
necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective September 3, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 3,
2025.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected].
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
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. It is also available at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0753.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Duong, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone: 516-228-7362; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Dassault
Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on May 15, 2025 (90 FR 20569). The NPRM was prompted
by AD 2024-0219, dated November 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0219) (also
referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that
incorrect installations of the VOR/LOC antenna have been reported. This
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in oscillations of the
lateral deviation indication on both localizer (LOC) number 1 and LOC
number 2 during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, and in
possible inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication and associated flight
management system VOR/distance measuring equipment (DME) position
updates.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require implementing an
operational limitation for CAT II and CAT III approaches, inspecting
the VOR/LOC antenna coupler, and reinstalling the VOR/LOC antenna
coupler if necessary, as specified in EASA AD 2024-0219. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address lateral deviation LOC indications and
inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication, which could lead to an airplane
departing from its scheduled flight path and possible impact with
terrain or obstacle.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0753.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0219 which specifies procedures for
implementing an operational limitation prohibiting CAT II and CAT III
approaches, inspecting/checking the installation of the VOR/LOC antenna
coupler, and removing and reinstalling any incorrectly installed VOR/
LOC antenna coupler. For airplanes with an operational approval to
conduct CAT II or CAT III approaches, EASA AD 2024-0219 also specifies
that the inspection and applicable corrective actions eliminate the
need for the operational limitation. 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.
[[Page 35828]]
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates this AD affects 279 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
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2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170............... $0 $170 $47,430
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition action that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need this on-condition action:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 $0 $85
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact
on affected operators.
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
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
(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 Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:
2025-15-06 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-23093; Docket No. FAA-
2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 3,
2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0219, dated November 18,
2024 (EASA AD 2024-0219).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34, Navigation.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of the incorrect installation of
the very high frequency omnidirectional range and localizer (VOR/
LOC) antenna coupler. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
incorrect installation of the VOR/LOC antenna coupler. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in oscillations of the
lateral deviation indication on both LOC number 1 and LOC number 2
during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, and possible
inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication and associated flight
management system VOR/distance measuring equipment (DME) position
updates. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to an
airplane departing from its scheduled flight path and possible
impact with terrain or obstacle.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, EASA 2024-0219.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0219
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0219 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0219 specifies that
``[a]mending the applicable AFM [airplane flight manual] by
inserting a copy of this AD and, thereafter, operating the aeroplane
accordingly, is an acceptable method to comply with this
[operational limitation] requirement'', this AD does not require
operating the airplane according to that AFM revision, as that
action is already required by existing FAA operating regulations
(see 14 CFR 91.9, 14 CFR 91.505, and 14 CFR 121.137).
[[Page 35829]]
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2024-0219.
(i) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the
airplane can be modified, provided category II and category III
operations are prohibited.
(j) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the
person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to:
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector,
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(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, 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.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Jonathan Duong,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; email: [email protected].
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0219,
dated November 18, 2024.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on
the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) 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.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on July 24, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-14440 Filed 7-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P