DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3987; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-165-AD;
Amendment 39-18580; AD 2016-13-15]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

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 certain
Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD was prompted by a
report of improperly drilled bores, located on upper and lower
stiffener joints to the Web at a certain frame. This AD requires a one-
time inspection of the bores, and repair if necessary. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct an unsatisfactory bore that can adversely
affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective August 16, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 16,
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, 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-2016-3987.

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-2016-
3987; 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 Rodriguez, 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 certain Dassault Aviation
Model FALCON 7X airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register
on March 1, 2016 (81 FR 10535) (``the NPRM'').
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
Airworthiness Directive 2015-0204, dated October 8, 2015 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault
Aviation FALCON 7X airplanes. The MCAI states:

On the assembly line of Falcon 7X airplanes, defects were
detected on left hand and right hand engine pylons. A quality review
revealed that bores located on upper and lower stiffener joints to
the web at pylon Frame 41 were improperly drilled. Fettlings of
borings, for fixing diameter 4 mm [millimeters] and 5 mm, were found
ovalized, too deep and having irregular surface qualities under the
head of fixing. Dassault Aviation identified the individual
airplanes that are potentially affected by this production
deficiency.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, would adversely
affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition Dassault Aviation
published Service Bulletin (SB) 7X-346 to provide corrective action
instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [detailed] visual [and rototest] inspection for unsatisfactory
bores and, depending on findings, repair of affected stiffener
bores.

A bore is not satisfactory if it has any surface defects greater
than or equal to 0.5 mm or if any chamfer dimension or edge distance
value is not within the dimensions specified in Dassault Aviation
Service Bulletin 7X-346, dated April 24, 2015. 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-2016-3987.

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 with the changes described
previously except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that
these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
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-346, dated April 24, 2015.
The service information describes procedures for a one-time inspection
and repair of the bores on stiffeners at Frame 41 on the engine pylons.
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 55 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repair that
would be required based on the results of the required inspection. We
have no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need this
repair:

On-Condition Costs

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
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

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]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):