DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0870; Product Identifier 2019-NM-125-AD; Amendment
39-19858; AD 2020-04-22]
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) 2018-19-27
and AD 2014-16-12, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model
FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2018-19-27 and AD 2014-16-12 required
revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable,
to incorporate new maintenance requirements and airworthiness
limitations. This AD retains those actions and requires revising the
existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to
incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations. This AD was prompted by the FAA's 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 May 4, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 4, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
November 13, 2018 (83 FR 50479, October 9, 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; phone: 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-2019-0870.

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-
0870; 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; phone and fax: 206-231-3226.

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 2019-0154, dated July 3, 2019 (``EASA AD 2019-0154'') (also
referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation
Model FALCON 2000EX 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-2019-0870.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-19-27, Amendment 39-19428 (83 FR
50479, October 9, 2018) (``AD 2018-19-27''). AD 2018-19-27 applied to
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2018-19-27
required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate new maintenance requirements and
airworthiness limitations. AD 2018-19-27 resulted from a determination
that new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness
limitations were necessary. AD 2018-19-27 specified that accomplishing
the actions required by paragraph (g) of that AD terminated the
requirements of AD 2014-16-12, Amendment 39-17936 (79 FR 52187,
September 3, 2014) (``AD 2014-16-12''), but it did not supersede AD
2014-16-12. In addition, AD 2018-19-27 specified that accomplishing
paragraph (g) of that AD terminated the requirements of paragraph
(g)(1) of AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21,
2010) (``AD 2010-26-05''), for Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX
airplanes. This terminating provision of certain requirements of AD
2010-26-05 is included in this AD. This AD supersedes AD 2018-19-27 and
AD 2014-16-12, but does not supersede AD 2010-26-05.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2019 (84
FR 63827). The NPRM was prompted by the FAA's determination that new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The NPRM
proposed to retain the actions required by AD 2018-19-27. The NPRM also
proposed to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address 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 has issued Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT
113877, Revision 12, dated November 2018, of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX
Maintenance Manual. This service information describes instructions
applicable to airworthiness and safe life limitations.
This AD also requires Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, DGT
113877, Revision 11, dated November 2017, of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX
Maintenance Manual, which the Director of the Federal Register approved
for incorporation by reference as of November 13, 2018 (83 FR 50479,
October 9, 2018).
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 173 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 2018-19-27 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-
hour).
The FAA has determined that the new revision of the existing
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. Therefore, the FAA estimates the total
cost per operator for the new revision 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

The FAA 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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-19-27, Amendment 39-19428
(83 FR 50479, October 9, 2018); and AD 2014-16-12, Amendment 39-17936
(79 FR 52187, September 3, 2014); and

b. Adding the following new AD: