DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0860; Product Identifier 2019-NM-123-AD; Amendment
39-19827; AD 2020-02-13]
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: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-
14, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON,
FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes. AD 2019-03-14
required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate new maintenance requirements and
airworthiness limitations. This AD continues to require, and adds new
requirements for, revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that
new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 12, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 12,
2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of April
8, 2019 (84 FR 7269, March 4, 2019).

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
https://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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2019-0860.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0860; 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 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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3226; email
tom.rodriguez@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2019-0142, dated June 17, 2019 (``EASA AD 2019-0142'') (also
referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault Aviation
Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0860.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2019-03-14, Amendment 39-19566 (84 FR 7269,
March 4, 2019) (``AD 2019-03-14''). AD 2019-03-14 applied to certain
Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E,
F, and G airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
November 4, 2019 (84 FR 59315). The NPRM was prompted by a
determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations
are necessary. The NPRM proposed continue to require, and adds new
requirements for, revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address, among
other things, fatigue cracking and damage in principal structural
elements; such fatigue cracking and damage could result in reduced
structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional
background information.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed,
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has 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

Dassault Aviation has issued Chapter 5-40-01, Airworthiness
Limitations, Revision 10, effective January 1, 2019, of the Dassault
Aviation Falcon 20 Maintenance Manual, specifically for aircraft that
have incorporated the supplemental structural inspection program
(SSIP). This service information describes airworthiness limitations
for safe life limits.
This AD also requires Chapter 5-40-01, Airworthiness Limitations,
DMD 44729, Revision 9, dated November 29, 2017, of the Dassault
Aviation Falcon 20 Maintenance Manual, which the Director of the
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of April 8,
2019 (84 FR 7269, March 4, 2019).
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

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 61 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained
actions from AD 2019-03-14 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-
hour).
The FAA has determined that revising the maintenance or inspection
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although the
FAA recognizes that this number may vary from operator to operator. In
the past, the FAA has estimated that this action takes 1 work-hour per
airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection program
changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined that a per-
operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane estimate. The
FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the new actions to be
$7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).

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.
The FAA is 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.

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2019-03-14, Amendment 39-19566 (84 FR 7269, March 4, 2019), and adding
the following new AD: