DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0496; Product Identifier 2018-NM-031-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of metallic debris
found in the wing slat piccolo tubes; investigation revealed that the
debris originated from the flow guide of the ball joint of the wing
anti-ice valve. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections
for metallic debris and damage of the flow guide of the ball joint of
the wing anti-ice valve, and related investigative and corrective
actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, 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 service information at the
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
206-231-3195.

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-2018-
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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations
office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2018-0496;
Product Identifier 2018-NM-031-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM based on
those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2018-0022, dated January 29, 2018 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
"the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault
Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The MCAI
states:

Occurrences were reported on Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX
aeroplanes, where metallic debris was found in slat piccolo tubes.
The technical investigation revealed that debris originated from the
flow guide of the ball joint located downstream of the wing anti-ice
valve. It was also determined that small debris gathers at the end
of the piccolo tube, but larger pieces of debris may stop before, in
the distribution piping, restricting the airflow and potentially
leading to undetected insufficient wing anti-ice capability.

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
issued Service Bulletin (SB) F2000EX-413 for Falcon 2000EX and SB
F2000-441 for Falcon 2000, providing applicable instructions.

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive [detailed] inspections [for discrepancies including
cracks and loss of material] of the affected ball joint and,
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable related
investigative and corrective actions * * *.

Related investigative actions include, for any loss of material,
borescope inspections of anti-ice pipes for debris, nicks, and damage.
Corrective actions include replacing any cracked or damaged ball joint,
and removing debris from the flow guide. 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-2018-0496.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Dassault Aviation has issued Service Bulletins F2000-441, dated
June 20, 2017; and F2000EX-413, dated July 10, 2017. This service
information describes procedures for repetitive inspections for
metallic debris and damage of the flow guide of the anti-ice ball joint
of the wing. The service information also describes procedures for
replacing the ball joint and pipe, and performing borescope inspections
of damaged wing anti-ice pipes and removal of any debris from the flow
guide. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of these
same type designs.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 348 airplanes of U.S.
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed
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 proposed 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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:

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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):