[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46365-46368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18705]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2553; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00186-T]
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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This
proposed AD was prompted by a report of simultaneous failures of the
main DC buses powered by Generator 1 (GEN1), and Generator 2 (GEN2)
after flap extension during approach. This proposed AD would require
revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
[[Page 46366]]
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November
10, 2025.
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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-2553; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
identified in this proposed 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket
No. FAA-2025-2553.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Dzierzynski, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: 516-228-7367; 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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-2553;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00186-T'' 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 proposal because of 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 received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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
Steven Dzierzynski, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue,
Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7367; email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2025-0042, dated February 19, 2025
(EASA AD 2025-0042) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX
airplanes. The MCAI states there was a report of simultaneous failures
of the main DC buses powered by GEN1 and GEN2 after flap extension
during approach. This event resulted in intermittent crew alerting
system (CAS) messages, including the red CAS message ``2 GEN'S FAIL,''
data flickering on the display units, and flashing lights on the
overhead panel, which led to the loss of the main DC buses after a
short period.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address intermittent and flickering
data, as well as CAS messages. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could lead to increased pilot workload, possibly during a critical
phase of flight. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-2553.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2025-0042 specifies procedures for revising the AFM to
provide flightcrew with emergency procedures to address intermittent
and flickering data and CAS messages.
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
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 is issuing this NPRM
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would be accomplishing the actions specified in
EASA AD 2025-0042 described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Compliance With AFM Revisions
EASA AD 2025-0042 requires operators to ``inform all flight crews,
and, thereafter, operate the airplane accordingly.'' However, this
proposed AD would not specifically require those actions as those
actions are already required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations
require that operators furnish to pilots any changes to the AFM (for
example, 14 CFR 121.137), and to ensure the pilots are familiar with
the AFM (for example, 14 CFR 91.505). As with any other flightcrew
training requirement, training on the updated AFM content is tracked by
the operators and recorded in each pilot's training record, which is
available for the FAA to review. FAA regulations also require pilots to
follow the procedures in the existing AFM including all updates. 14 CFR
91.9 requires that any person operating a civil aircraft must comply
with the operating limitations
[[Page 46367]]
specified in the AFM. Therefore, including a requirement in this
proposed AD to operate the airplane according to the revised AFM would
be redundant and unnecessary.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2025-0042 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2025-0042 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 EASA AD 2025-0042 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 EASA AD 2025-
0042. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0042 for compliance will be
available at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2025-2553 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 304 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85............................. $0 $85 $25,840
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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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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:
Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2025-2553; Project Identifier
MCAI-2025-00186-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 10, 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 2025-0042, dated February 19,
2025 (EASA AD 2025-0042).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical
Power.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of simultaneous failures of the
main DC buses powered by Generator 1 (GEN1), and Generator 2 (GEN2)
after flap extension during approach, which initially resulted in
intermittent display of crew alerting system (CAS) messages, and led
to the loss of the main DC buses. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address intermittent and flickering data, as well as CAS messages.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to increased
pilot workload, possibly during a critical phase of flight.
(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 AD 2025-0042.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0042
(1) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0042 specifies to
``inform all flight crews and, thereafter, operate the airplane
accordingly,'' this AD does not require those actions as those
actions are already required by existing FAA operating regulations
(see 14 CFR 91.9, 14 CFR 91.505, and 14 CFR 121.137).
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0042 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0042.
(i) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International
[[Page 46368]]
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 (j) 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.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Steven Dzierzynski,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7367; email: [email protected].
(k) 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 2025-0042,
dated February 19, 2025.
(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]; website easa.europa.eu. 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 September 23, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18705 Filed 9-25-25; 8:45 am]
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