DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0496; Product Identifier 2016-NM-103-AD; Amendment
39-19001; AD 2017-17-11]
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 indicating that, under certain operational takeoff conditions,
the available thrust in relation with the N1 indication is less than a
certified value, which could affect the safety margins with an engine
failure during takeoff. This AD requires modifying each engine by
updating the electronic engine control (EEC) software and adjusting the
engine N1 trim value, and revising the airplane flight manual (AFM). We
are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 29, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 29,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For Dassault 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. For Pratt & Whitney Canada service
information identified in this final rule, contact Pratt & Whitney
Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1;
telephone 800-268-8000; fax 450-647-2888; Internet http://www.pwc.ca.
You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport
Standards Branch, 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-2017-0496.

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-2017-0496;
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 Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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 May 30, 2017 (82 FR 24603) (``the NPRM''). We are issuing this AD to
prevent a reduction in available engine thrust during certain
operational takeoff conditions, which could affect
the safety margins with an engine failure during takeoff and could
result 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
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0063, dated March 31, 2016 (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:

A review of the Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) 307A engine data
files has disclosed that, under certain operational take-off
conditions (high altitude runway and low temperature), the available
thrust in relation with N1 indication is less than certified and
described in the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).
This condition, if not corrected, affects the safety margins
with an engine failure during take-off, possibly resulting in
reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, PWC developed an
interim correction [i.e., modifying each engine installed on the
airplane], to be embodied in service with PWC Service Bulletin (SB)
47202, which allows augmenting the thrust through a general N1-
detrimming. Subsequently, PWC developed a new Engine Electronic
Control (EEC) software version, which provides a definitive
correction of the thrust rating deficiency. PWC published SB 47216
that provides instructions for in service installation of EEC
software version 307A0514.
Concurrently with these developments, Dassault Aviation
published SB 7X-287 to provide aeroplane modification instructions
and also revised the performance charts relevant to the new thrust
rating, available with AFM Revision 21 (incorporating Temporary
Revision CP098).
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
modification of each engine, installation of the new software
version, and amendment of the applicable AFM.

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-2017-
0496.

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:
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 FALCON 7X AFM DGT105608, Revision 21, dated
November 20, 2015, which incorporates AFM CP098 (provides performance
charts relevant to the new thrust rating). This AFM describes operating
limitations, normal/abnormal/emergency operating procedures, and
performance data and loading information.
We reviewed Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-287, also referred to as
287, dated January 4, 2016. This service information describes
procedures for modifying each engine installed on the airplane by
updating the EEC, which includes performing tests after removal and
installation of the EEC.
We reviewed Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin PW300-72-47202,
Revision 3, also referred to as 47202R3, dated March 10, 2016. This
service information describes procedures for modifying an engine by
adjusting the engine N1 trim value for PW307A engines.
We reviewed Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin PW300-72-47216,
also referred to as 47216, dated January 13, 2016. This service
information describes procedures for modifying each engine installed on
the airplane by updating the EEC, which includes installing software
EEC version 307A0514.
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 62 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes to
the Director of the System Oversight Division.

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):