DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0908; Product Identifier 2017-NM-103-AD; Amendment
39-19238; AD 2018-07-07]
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 FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES D, E, F,
and G airplanes; and certain Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5,
and 20-F5 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the collapse of
the main landing gear (MLG) on touchdown. This AD requires an
electrical modification of the landing gear sequence logic. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 14, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 14,
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-2017-0908.

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-
0908; 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 St., 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 all Dassault Aviation Model
FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES D, E, F, and G airplanes; and
certain Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2017 (82 FR
49151) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by reports of the collapse
of the main landing gear on touchdown. The NPRM proposed to require an
electrical modification of the landing gear sequence logic. We are
issuing this AD to prevent MLG collapse, which could result in damage
to the airplane and injury to the occupants.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2017-0130, dated July 26, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN
JET FALCON SERIES D, E, F, and G airplanes; and certain Model MYSTERE-
FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes. The MCAI states:

An incident occurred in January 2016 on a Falcon 20-5 aeroplane
where, upon touchdown, one main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, due to
a sequence anomaly.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to additional
events of MLG collapse, possibly resulting in damage to the
aeroplane and injury to the occupants.
Prompted by previous similar events, Dassault developed a
modification, ensuring that hydraulic pressure of circuit #1 of the
landing gear actuators is maintained after the extension sequence is
completed. As a result, in the unlikely case of having one of the
legs not properly mechanically locked down, the pressure maintained
in the landing gear bracing devices will prevent landing gear from
collapsing. Dassault published Service Bulletin (SB) F20-676 in 1981
(later revised in 1998) which contains the necessary instructions to
modify in-service aeroplanes.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires an
electrical modification of the landing gear sequence logic.

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-2017-0908.

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

Dassault Aviation has issued Service Bulletin F20-676, Revision 1,
dated March 4, 1998. This service information describes procedures for
an electrical modification of the MLG sequence logic to prevent landing
gear collapse on touchdown. 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 308 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):