DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0909; Product Identifier 2017-NM-081-AD; Amendment
39-19214; AD 2018-05-05]
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 MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000,
and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of a loose
screw on certain slat mechanical stop assemblies, and punctures in
certain fuel caps. This AD requires a one-time inspection, and
corrective action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 11, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 11,
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, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, 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-2017-0909.

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-
0909; 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, 2200 South
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226.

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 MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000, and FALCON 2000EX
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 24,
2017 (82 FR 49149) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by reports of
a loose screw on certain slat mechanical stop assemblies, and punctures
in certain fuel caps. The NPRM proposed to require a one-time general
visual inspection of the screw on the affected slat tracks, and
replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
loose screws that could lead to structural damage to the wing front
spar, and consequent fuel leakage, possibly resulting in an
uncontrolled fire.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2017-0106, dated June 19, 2017 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault
Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000, and
FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The MCAI states:

On some aeroplanes in-service, the screw of the slat mechanical
stop assembly on slat tracks #6, #7 and #8 was found loose. In some
cases, a puncture was found in the fuel cap. The results of the
technical investigations concluded that the most probable reason for
these events was improper installation of the lock washers on the
screws during production or maintenance.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
structural damage to the wing front spar, and consequent fuel
leakage, possibly resulting in an uncontrolled fire.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault issued
[Service Bulletin] SB F900-460 Revision 1, SB F900EX-508 Revision 3,
SB F2000-433 Revision 1, and SB F2000EX-386 Revision 3 (hereafter
collectively referred as `the applicable SB' in this [EASA] AD), as
applicable to aeroplane type/model, to provide inspection
instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [general visual] inspection of the slat tracks #6, #7 and #8 to
verify the tightening torque of the screw and proper lock washer
installation and, depending on findings, accomplishment of
applicable corrective action(s).

Applicable corrective actions include replacement, 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-
0909.

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 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 the following service information.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900-460, Revision 1, dated
February 10, 2017.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-508, Revision 3, dated
February 10, 2017.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000-433, Revision 1, dated
February 10, 2017.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-386, Revision 3, dated
February 10, 2017.
This service information describes procedures for doing a one-time
general visual inspection of the screw on the affected slat tracks, and
replacement if necessary. 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 65 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 replacements
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
replacement:

On-Condition 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):