DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0694; Product Identifier 2017-NM-007-AD; Amendment
39-19192; AD 2018-03-19]
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 fuselage panels were manufactured with defects
that could reduce panel fatigue limits. This AD requires a one-time
inspection of the affected panels and repair if necessary, and for
certain airplanes, installation of a stiffener. We are issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective March 20, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 20,
2018.
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 206-231-3195. It is also available on the internet at
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2017-0694.
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-
0694; 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 July 14, 2017 (82 FR 32498) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by
a report indicating that fuselage panels were manufactured with defects
that could reduce panel fatigue limits. The NPRM proposed to require a
one-time inspection of the affected panels and corrective actions if
necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies
of certain fuselage lateral panels, which could lead to crack
propagation and possible reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0250, dated December 15, 2016 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault
Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. The MCAI states:
A few pockets of fuselage Section T5 lateral panels were
manufactured with defects in certain chemically-milled profiles. The
technical investigation concluded that the fatigue limit of the
affected panels might be reduced, depending on the defect
characteristics.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
crack propagation, possibly resulting in reduced structural
integrity of the fuselage.
To address this potential unsafe condition, DA published Service
Bulletin (SB) F7X-042 providing inspection instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [detailed] inspection of the chemically-milled profiles of the
pockets of the Section T5 fuselage lateral panels and, depending on
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). This
[EASA] AD also requires, for some aeroplanes, the installation of a
stiffener on the forward pocket.
Applicable corrective actions include repair, if necessary. 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-
0694.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. 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 Service Bulletin 7X-042, Revision 1, dated May
3, 2016. This service information describes the inspection of the
chemically milled profiles of the pockets of the Section T5 fuselage
lateral panels and the installation of a stiffener on the forward
pocket on affected airplanes. 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 4 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 |
Panel inspections |
Up to 10 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $850 |
$0 |
Up to $850 |
Up to $3,400 |
Stiffener installation (up to
3 airplanes) |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
8,769 |
$8,939 |
Up to $26,817 |
According to the manufacturer, all
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.
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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