Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 900EX Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6552-6553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2684]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-283-AD; Amendment 39-13470; AD 2004-03-26]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 900EX Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Dassault Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes, 
that requires modification of the front attachment area of the No. 2 
engine. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the fail-safe 
lugs of the hoisting plate of the forward engine mount, and subsequent 
cracking of the pick-up folded sheet of the pylon forward rib. Such 
cracking could rupture the mast case box, which could result in loss of 
the two forward engine mounts and consequent separation of the engine 
from the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified 
unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective March 17, 2004.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of March 17, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Dassault Falcon Jet, PO Box 2000, South Hackensack, New 
Jersey 07606. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Dassault Model Falcon 
900EX series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 
9, 2003 (68 FR 58285). That action proposed to require modification of 
the front attachment area of the No. 2 engine.

Comment

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the single comment received.

Request To Add Revised Service Information

    The commenter asks that the proposed AD be changed to cite only 
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-103, Revision 1, dated October 16, 
2002, as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishment of the modification. (The original issue of the service 
bulletin was cited as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishment of the modification in the proposed AD.) The commenter 
states that there are some build differences on airplanes with serial 
numbers 1 through 4 inclusive, that do not exist on other airplanes 
specified in the applicability of the original issue of the service 
bulletin; therefore, the original issue cannot be used for airplanes 
with those serial numbers. Revision 1 describes additional procedures 
for the modification of airplanes with serial numbers 1 through 4. The 
commenter adds that the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation 
Civile, which is the airworthiness authority for France, has been 
informed of this change and has agreed not to issue a revision to 
French airworthiness directive 2001-160-027(B), dated May 2, 2001 
(referenced in the proposed AD), due to inclusion of the phrase 
``original issue or further approved revisions'' in that airworthiness 
directive.
    The FAA agrees with the commenter. We have added Revision 1 of the 
service bulletin, and we have changed all service bulletin references 
in this final rule to specify Revision 1.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, we have determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Cost Impact

    We estimate that 36 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by 
this AD, that it will take about 85 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish the modification,

[[Page 6553]]

and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts 
will cost about $14,479 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the modification on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$720,144, or $20,004 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD 
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2004-03-26 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-13470. Docket 2001-NM-
283-AD.

    Applicability: Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes, serial 
numbers 1 through 60 inclusive; certificated in any category; except 
those on which Dassault Modifications M2754 and M2925, identified in 
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-103, Revision 1, dated October 16, 
2002, have been accomplished.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the fail-safe lugs of the forward engine 
mount, and consequent cracking of the pick-up folded sheet of the 
pylon forward rib, which could rupture the mast case box and result 
in loss of the two forward engine mounts and consequent separation 
of the engine from the airplane, accomplish the following:

Modification

    (a) Prior to the accumulation of 3,750 flight cycles since the 
date of issuance of the original Airworthiness Certificate or the 
date of issuance of the Export Certificate of Airworthiness, 
whichever occurs first: Modify the front attachment area of the No. 
2 engine by doing all the actions per Paragraphs 2.A. through 2.D. 
of the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin 
F900EX-103, Revision 1, dated October 16, 2002.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

Incorporation by Reference

    (c) The actions shall be done in accordance with Dassault 
Service Bulletin F900EX-103, Revision 1, dated October 16, 2002. 
This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, 
South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. Copies may be inspected at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in French 
airworthiness directive 2001-160-027(B), dated May 2, 2001.

Effective Date

    (d) This amendment becomes effective on March 17, 2004.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 3, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2684 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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