Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17137-17141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06627]


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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; 
Amendment 39-23297; AD 2026-07-02]
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 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 AD requires revising the existing 
airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 11, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 11, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    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 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:
    <bullet> 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.

[[Page 17138]]

    <bullet> 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-2025-2553.

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:

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 September 26, 2025 (90 FR 46365). The NPRM was 
prompted by AD 2025-0042, dated February 19, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0042) 
(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 
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.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing AFM, 
as specified in EASA AD 2025-0042. 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.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from the Citizens Rulemaking Alliance. 
The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's 
response to each comment.

Request To Issue an NPRM or Delay Effective Date for Non-Immediate 
Tasks

    The commenter requested that the FAA either convert this action to 
an NPRM or delay the effective date for non-immediate tasks by 60 to 
120 days and request comments for those non-immediate tasks. The 
commenter asserted the FAA's use of the good cause exemption appears 
overbroad given the compliance is 1 month instead of before further 
flight.
    The FAA notes the comment was submitted in response to an NPRM for 
which the FAA provided a 45-day comment period. This final rule is 
effective 35 days after its publication in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, no change to this AD is necessary.

Request To Make Incorporation by Reference (IBR) Materials Reasonably 
Available

    The commenter stated that the FAA's current practices for IBR 
frequently fail to meet the legal and regulatory standards for 
reasonable availability. The commenter called on the FAA to guarantee 
that all IBR materials are easily and freely accessible to the public 
and affected parties for both commenting and compliance purposes. They 
also requested that this access be documented in the rulemaking record.
    The FAA's practices comply with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act and 1 CFR part 51. The FAA makes IBR 
materials available in the AD docket when the final rule is published 
in the Federal Register, following formal approval of the IBR by the 
Office of the Federal Register. Materials may only be posted before the 
final rule's publication if they are already publicly available or if 
there is written consent from the owner of the IBR material. All 
relevant materials incorporated by reference will be accessible in the 
AD docket on Regulations.gov, which the public can access without 
registration or fees.
    The FAA also provides summaries and access details in the preamble 
and regulatory text, makes materials available for inspection at FAA 
and National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) offices, offers 
publisher contact information, and obtains formal IBR approval from the 
Office of the Federal Register. These efforts are intended to ensure 
that all IBR materials meet the ``reasonably available'' standard 
required by 1 CFR part 51. The FAA did not change this AD as a result 
of this comment.

Request To Comply With the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The commenter requested that the FAA revise the AD to comply with 
the PRA if reporting is required or remove any reporting provisions 
until PRA requirements are satisfied. If reporting is not required, the 
commenter requested the FAA clarify that in the AD.
    The FAA notes this AD does not require reporting. If an AD were to 
require reporting, the preamble of the AD would include a paragraph 
titled ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' that would provide the applicable 
OMB control number, required PRA statements, and the estimated time to 
collect the required information (burden). Any costs associated with 
the reporting requirement would be included in the Costs of Compliance 
section in the preamble of the AD. Therefore, the FAA did not change 
this AD as a result of this comment.

Request To Consider Impact on Small Entities

    The commenter requested that the FAA either provide the factual 
basis for its Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) certification that the 
AD will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities, or prepare an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis and consider less burdensome alternatives for small operators 
and small repair stations.
    The FAA provides the following clarification. The RFA of 1980 (5 
U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121) and the Small 
Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-240), requires Federal agencies 
to consider the effects of the regulatory action on small business and 
other small entities and to minimize any significant economic impact. 
The term ``small entities'' comprises small businesses and not-for-
profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are 
not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    This AD will affect 230 small and non-small entities, 1 Tribal 
government, and 3 individuals. Of the affected entities, FAA identified 
143 small entities in multiple industries as follows:

[[Page 17139]]



                      Number of Small Entities Affected per Industry and Cost Significance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Number of small   Cost per AD/
               NAICS code                              Description                   entities     annual revenue
                                                                                     affected           (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
481211.................................  Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air                 89    0.00 to 0.02
                                          Transportation.
481219.................................  Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation.               13    0.00 to 0.02
532411.................................  Commercial Air, Rail, and Water                      11            0.01
                                          Transportation Equipment Rental and
                                          Leasing.
488190.................................  Other Support Activities for Air                      4    0.00 to 0.01
                                          Transportation.
551112.................................  Offices of Other Holding Companies....                4            0.01
211120.................................  Crude Petroleum Extraction............                1            0.00
326299.................................  All Other Rubber Product Manufacturing                1            0.01
334511.................................  Search, Detection, Navigation,                        1            n.a.
                                          Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical
                                          System and Instrument Manufacturing.
336411.................................  Aircraft Manufacturing................                1            0.01
336414.................................  Guided Missile and Space Vehicle                      1            0.01
                                          Manufacturing.
423820.................................  Farm and Garden Machinery and                         1            0.01
                                          Equipment Merchant Wholesalers.
423860.................................  Transportation Equipment and Supplies                 1            0.00
                                          Merchant Wholesalers.
425120.................................  Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers....                1            0.00
484121.................................  General Freight Trucking, Long-                       1            0.01
                                          Distance, Truckload.
523120.................................  Securities Brokerage..................                1            0.00
525990.................................  Other Investment Pools and Funds......                1            n.a.
531190.................................  Lessors of Other Real Estate Property.                1            0.01
531390.................................  Other Activities Related to Real                      1            0.00
                                          Estate.
532310.................................  General Rental Centers................                1            n.a.
532490.................................  Other Commercial and Industrial                       1            0.00
                                          Machinery and Equipment Rental and
                                          Leasing.
541110.................................  Offices of Lawyers....................                1            0.00
541511.................................  Custom Computer Programming Services..                1            0.00
541512.................................  Computer Systems Design Services......                1            0.00
541611.................................  Administrative Management and General                 1            0.01
                                          Management Consulting Services.
551114.................................  Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional                   1            0.01
                                          Managing Offices.
611512.................................  Flight Training.......................                1            n.a.
811310.................................  Commercial and Industrial Machinery                   1            0.00
                                          and Equipment (except Automotive and
                                          Electronic) Repair and Maintenance.
                                                                                --------------------------------
    Total..............................  ......................................              143  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While FAA has determined that this final AD affects a substantial 
number of small entities, the compliance cost of the AD per small 
entity to their annual revenue is de minimis. Therefore, as provided in 
section 605(b) and based on the foregoing, the head of FAA certifies 
that this AD will not result in a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The FAA did not change this AD as 
a result of this comment.

Request To Revise the Cost Estimate

    The commenter requested that the FAA update the labor rate and 
downtime assumptions in the cost estimate, consider alternatives that 
minimize downtime and scheduling disruptions, and revise the FAA's 
certification that the AD is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866 if the updated costs justify it.
    The FAA has determined that the current labor rate of $85 per hour 
remains accurate for this AD. The FAA evaluates this rate periodically, 
based on U.S. Department of Labor Statistic (BLS) data found at https://data.bls.gov/oes, and will change the rate when appropriate. The FAA 
used a blended wage rate to estimate the labor rate for this AD, where 
the FAA assumes 60 percent weight for aircraft mechanics (at a fully 
burdened mean wage rate of $69.85 per hour) and 40 percent for general 
and operations managers (at a fully burdened mean wage rate of $108.15 
per hour). To calculate the blended wage rate, the FAA multiplied each 
wage rate by its corresponding weight and added up the products to 
obtain a wage rate of $85.17, which the FAA rounded down to $85. 
Additionally, the FAA considered the impact that this AD will have on 
affected operators and determined that this AD will not trigger any 
downtime costs because AFM revisions are administrative actions that do 
not normally lead to burdensome scheduling disruptions. Therefore, the 
FAA did not change this AD as a result of this comment.

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 2025-0042, which 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 304 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 17140]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Labor cost                        Parts cost    Cost per product    Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85....................           $0                 $85                   $25,840
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2026-07-02 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-23297; Docket No. FAA-
2025-2553; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00186-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 11, 2026.

(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 and 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 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]. 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

[[Page 17141]]

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 March 25, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-06627 Filed 4-3-26; 8:45 am]
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