DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0760; Product Identifier 2018-NM-095-AD; Amendment
39-19506; AD 2018-24-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, and
FALCON 900EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked
reinforcing straps (doublers) on the ailerons of airplanes equipped
with blended winglets. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections
for cracking of the upper and lower reinforcing straps on the ailerons,
and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 2, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of January 2,
2019.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Aviation Partners, Inc., 7299 Perimeter Road South, Seattle, WA
98108-3812; phone: 206-762-1171; email: mwilliams@winglets.com;
internet: http://www.aviationpartners.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. It is also available on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2018-0760.
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-
0760; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is 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: Michael Bumbaugh, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3522; email:
Michael.Bumbaugh@faa.gov.
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 50, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, and FALCON 900EX
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 24,
2018 (83 FR 42810). The NPRM was prompted by reports of cracked
reinforcing straps (doublers) on the ailerons of airplanes equipped
with blended winglets. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive detailed
inspections for cracking of the upper and lower reinforcing straps on
the ailerons, and replacement if necessary.
We are issuing this AD to address cracking of aileron reinforcing
straps, which could lead to fatigue cracking of the ailerons and
subsequent loss of control of the airplane.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. We have considered the comment received. The
commenter, Sean Sullivan, indicated support for the NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this final rule 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 addressing 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 Aviation Partners, Inc., Falcon Service Bulletin SBF9-
17-001, Revision B, dated December 20, 2017. This service information
describes procedures for detailed inspections for any signs of cracking
of the external upper and lower reinforcing straps on the left-hand
(LH) and right-hand (RH) ailerons.
We also reviewed Aviation Partners, Inc., Falcon Service Bulletin
SBF9-17-002, Revision A, dated December 20, 2017. This service
information describes procedures for replacing the external upper and
lower reinforcing straps on the LH and RH ailerons.
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 70 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 |
Repetitive inspections |
1 work-hour x $85 per
hour = $85 per inspection
cycle |
$0 |
$85 per inspection
cycle |
$5,950 per inspection
cycle |
Estimated Costs for Optional Actions
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Replacement (4 doublers) |
32 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $2,720 |
$4,540 |
$7,260 |
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 these
replacements:
On-Condition Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Replacement (per doubler) |
8 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$680 (per doubler) |
$1,135 (per doubler) |
$1,815 (per doubler) |
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 and
associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.
Regulatory Findings
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 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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