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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0475; Product Identifier 2016-NM-142-AD; Amendment
39-19017; AD 2017-18-08]
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
all
Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This
AD was prompted by reports of ice accretion on the airplane wing due to
the failure of certain anti-ice piccolo tubes in the wing outboard
slats. This AD requires repetitive inspections of each anti-ice piccolo
tube and corrective action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 5, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 5,
2017.
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 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-2017-0475.
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-
0475; 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 all Dassault Aviation Model
FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on May 22, 2017 (82 FR 23163) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM
was prompted by reports of ice accretion on the airplane wing due to
the failure of certain anti-ice piccolo tubes in the wing outboard
slats. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections of each
anti-ice piccolo tube and corrective action if necessary. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct manufacturing defects in the
anti-ice piccolo tubes in the wing outboard slats. This condition could
lead to undetected significant ice accretion on a wing, resulting in
loss of 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 2016-0149, dated July 25, 2016 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation
Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The MCAI states:
Occurrences were reported of ice accretion on the wing, due to
failure of the affected anti-ice piccolo tubes Part Number (P/N)
FGFB725102. Investigation results indicated that some wing piccolo
tubes P/N FGFB725102 could have manufacturing defects in their
welded parts, which may have caused the rupture of the tubes, due to
fatigue.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
undetected significant ice accretion on the wing, possibly resulting
in loss of control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, [Dassault Aviation]
DA issued Service Bulletin (SB) F2000-431 Revision 1 and SB F2000EX-
391 Revision 1 (hereafter referred to collectively as `the
applicable SB' in this [EASA] AD) to provide instructions for
endoscopic inspection of the tubes.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of each wing outboard slat piccolo tube [for
discrepancies, i.e., manufacturing defects, cracking, and loss of
material in the welded parts] and, depending on findings,
replacement of the piccolo tube(s) [and the outboard slat] with a
[new or] serviceable part.
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-
0475.
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.
Change to NPRM
We have added paragraph (j) to this AD to explain that although
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000-431, Revision 1, dated June 6, 2016;
and Service Bulletin F2000EX-391, Revision 1, dated June 6, 2016;
specify to submit a report of crack findings to Dassault, this AD does
not require a report. We have redesignated subsequent paragraphs
accordingly.
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
Dassault Aviation has issued Service Bulletin F2000-431, Revision
1, dated June 6, 2016; and Service Bulletin F2000EX-391, Revision 1,
dated June 6, 2016. The service information describes procedures for
endoscopic inspections of the anti-ice piccolo tube on each wing
outboard slat, and replacement or re-identification of affected anti-
ice piccolo tubes and outboard slats. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different airplane models. 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 348 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Inspection |
6 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$510 per inspection cycle |
$0 |
$510 per inspection cycle |
$177,480 per
inspection cycle |
We have received no definitive data
that will enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
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):
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