Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24462-24464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08952]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7532; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-069-AD; 
Amendment 39-18477; AD 2016-08-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD was prompted by 
reports of multiple cases of ram air turbine (RAT) blade damage. This 
AD requires deployment of the RAT, replacement of the RAT placard with 
a new RAT placard, and re-identification of the RAT. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent blade damage to the RAT, which could prevent RAT 
deployment in flight during an emergency, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective May 31, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 31, 
2016.

[[Page 24463]]


ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; 
telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet: http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You 
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It 
is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-7532.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7532; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone: 
800-647-5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriquez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-1137; 
fax: 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Dassault Aviation Model 
FALCON 7X airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
January 4, 2016 (81 FR 28) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by 
reports of multiple cases of ram air turbine (RAT) blade damage. The 
NPRM proposed to require deployment of the RAT, replacement of the RAT 
placard with a new RAT placard, and re-identification of the RAT. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent blade damage to the RAT, which could 
prevent RAT deployment in flight during an emergency, possibly 
resulting in reduced control of the airplane.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2015-0076, dated May 6, 2015 (referred to after this as the Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. 
The MCAI states:

    A few cases of Ram Air Turbine (RAT) blade damage have been 
reported during maintenance operations. This kind of damage is 
caused by an incorrect locking of RAT rotor, due to improper 
positioning of blades at beginning of retraction, and locking check 
during retraction, which likely occurs during stowage of the RAT, 
after its deployment for maintenance purposes.
    This condition, if not corrected, could prevent RAT deployment 
in flight during an emergency, possibly resulting in reduced control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault Aviation 
issued Service Bulletin (SB) 7X-289, which provides instructions to 
smoothly deploy the RAT and install an improved placard to ensure 
proper RAT stowage/retraction after maintenance.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of the existing RAT placard with a new placard and RAT 
re-identification. This [EASA] AD also provides conditions for 
installation of a RAT on an aeroplane.

    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-2015-
7532.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-289, dated January 21, 
2015. The service information describes procedures for deployment of 
the RAT, replacement of the RAT placard with a new RAT placard, and re-
identification of the RAT. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 45 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We also estimate that it will take about 4 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $121 per 
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on 
U.S. operators to be $20,745, or $461 per product.
    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that 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. 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

[[Page 24464]]

    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.

Adoption of 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 (AD):

2016-08-01 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-18477. Docket No. FAA-
2015-7532; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-069-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 31, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes, 
certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical 
power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of multiple cases of ram air 
turbine (RAT) blade damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent blade 
damage to the RAT, which could prevent RAT deployment in flight 
during an emergency, possibly resulting in reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Placard Replacement

    Except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD: Within 28 months 
or during the next accomplishment of the RAT functional test, 
whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, deploy 
the RAT, replace the RAT placard with a new RAT placard, and re-
identify the RAT part number (P/N) 1705673A to a part number 
identified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin 
7X-289, dated January 21, 2015.
    (1) Change P/N 1705673A to P/N 1705673B.
    (2) Change P/N 1705673A to a part number that is approved as a 
replacement for P/N 1705673A and approved as part of the type design 
by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 
Dassault Aviation's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA); after 
the issue date of Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-289, dated January 
21, 2015.

(h) Exception to Paragraph (g) of This AD

    An airplane on which Dassault Aviation Modification M1428 has 
been embodied in production is not affected by the requirements of 
paragraph (g) of this AD, provided no RAT P/N 1705673A has been 
installed on that airplane since first flight.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a RAT 
having P/N 1705673A, on any airplane.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, 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 
Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom Rodriquez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-227-
1137; fax: 425-227-1149. 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. The AMOC approval letter must 
specifically reference this AD.
    (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 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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.

(k) Related Information

    Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) 
EASA AD 2015-0076, dated May 6, 2015, 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-
2015-7532.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-289, dated January 21, 2015.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; 
telephone: 201-440-6700; Internet: http://www.dassaultfalcon.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2016.
Victor Wicklund,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08952 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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