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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1297; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00570-T;
Amendment 39-22336; AD 2023-03-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD was
prompted by a report of smoke in the flightdeck and loss of the right-
hand (RH) primary display unit (PDU) and the secondary flight display
(SFD). This AD requires inspecting the two electrical power feeders for
damage (deterioration), measuring the clearance between the two
electrical power feeders and the forward lavatory bulkhead, and
applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 4, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 4,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1297; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For material incorporated by reference in this AD, contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th Street,
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at
the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available in the AD docket at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1297.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
Large Aircraft Section, FAA, International Validation Branch, 2200
South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206-231-3226; email
tom.rodriguez@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA 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 FALCON 7X airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on October 21, 2022 (87 FR 63978). The NPRM was prompted by AD
2022-0073, dated April 27, 2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2022-0073)
(also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that a report was
received of smoke in the flightdeck and loss of the RH PDU and the SFD.
The subsequent investigation determined that chafing and arcing of the
electrical power feeders with the forward lavatory bulkhead led to
smoke and loss of the RH PDU and the SFD power supply.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting the two
electrical power feeders for damage (deterioration), measuring the
clearance between the two electrical power feeders and the forward
lavatory bulkhead, and applicable corrective actions, as specified in
EASA AD 2022-0073. The FAA is issuing this AD to address chafing and
arcing of the electrical power feeders with the forward lavatory
bulkhead, which could lead to loss of systems supporting flight
automation and flight displays and reduced situational awareness,
possibly resulting in a significant increase of flightcrew workload and
injury to occupants.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1297.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from an anonymous commenter. The
following presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to the comment.
Request To Clarify Manufacturer Involvement
The anonymous commenter supported the NPRM without change. However,
the commenter also wanted to know if manufacturers that make and design
the aircraft are involved in the resolution of an unsafe condition on
their product.
The FAA acknowledges that all manufacturers are always involved in
the resolution of any unsafe condition associated with their product.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the
comment received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this
AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on this product. Except for minor editorial changes,
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will
increase the economic burden on any operator.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2022-0073 specifies procedures for inspecting the two
electrical power feeders for damage (deterioration), measuring the
clearance between the two electrical power feeders and the forward
lavatory bulkhead, and applicable corrective actions. The corrective
actions include repairing any electrical power feeder with
deterioration and modifying the forward lavatory bulkhead. If a
clearance of more than 1 millimeter (mm) but less than or equal to 13
mm is detected, the corrective action includes installing ROUNDIT200NX
sheath on the affected electrical power feeder using white binding
braid. If a clearance of more than 13 mm is detected, the corrective
action includes looking for the presence of a blue cable grip around
the electrical power feeders and installing it if it is missing. This
material 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 45 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| 2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$0
|
$170
|
$7,650
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Up to 33 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $2,805 |
Up to $431
|
Up to $3,236
|
The FAA has included all known costs
in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact
on affected operators.
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
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.
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:
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