2012-24392. Airworthiness Directives; DASSUALT AVIATION Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all DASSAULT AVIATION Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer revision to the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) that introduces new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD would revise the maintenance program to incorporate new or revised maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606; telephone [phone]; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov;​; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2012-1037; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-008-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2011-0246, dated December 22, 2011 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

The airworthiness limitations and maintenance requirements for the Mystère-Falcon 50 (MF50) type design are included in Dassault Aviation Mystère-Falcon 50 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) chapter 5-40 and approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EASA issued AD 2008-0221 to require accomplishment of the maintenance tasks and implementation of the airworthiness limitations, as specified in Dassault Aviation MF50 AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 17.

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Dassault Aviation issued MF50 AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 21, which introduces new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations.

Dassault Aviation AMM chapter 5-40 revision 21 contains among other changes the following requirements:

—Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme (CPCP). Compliance with this programme was required by DGAC [Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile] France AD F-2004-162 (EASA approval number 2004-10117). A new CPCP approach is now introduced in MF50 AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 21;

—Check of overpressure tightness on pressurization control regulating valves. Compliance with this check is required by EASA AD 2008-0072 [which corresponds to FAA AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010]. MF50 AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 21 introduces extended inspection interval;

—Non destructive check of the flap tracks 2 and 5. Compliance with this check is required by EASA AD 2010-0080.

The maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, as specified in the MF50 AMM chapter 5-40, have been identified as mandatory actions for continued airworthiness of the MF50 type design. Failure to comply with AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 21 might constitute an unsafe condition [which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane].

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD, which supersedes DGAC France AD F-2004-162, requires the implementation of the maintenance tasks and airworthiness limitations, as specified in Dassault Aviation MF50 AMM chapter 5-40 at revision 21.

The required action is revising the maintenance program to incorporate all airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks specified in Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

Dassault has issued Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011. The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 253 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $21,505, or $85 per product.

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.

Regulatory Findings

We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:

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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2012-1037; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-008-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by November 19, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

Certain requirements of this AD terminate the requirements of AD 2012-02-18, Amendment 39-16941 (77 FR 12175, February 29, 2012); and AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010), for the airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(c) Applicability

(1) This AD applies to DASSAULT AVIATION Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes, certificated in any category, all serial numbers.

(2) This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance according to paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Periodic inspections.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by a manufacturer revision to the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) that introduces new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

(g) Maintenance Program Revision

Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the maintenance program to incorporate all airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks specified in Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011. The initial compliance times for the tasks are at the applicable times specified in Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011, or within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

(h) No Alternative Actions, Intervals, and/or Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs)

After accomplishing the revisions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and/or CDCCLs may be used other than those specified in Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011, unless the actions, intervals, and/or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative methods of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.

(i) Terminating Action for Certain ADs

Accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD terminates the requirements of AD 2012-02-18, Amendment 39-16941 (77 FR 12175, February 29, 2012); and AD 2010-26-05, Amendment 39-16544 (75 FR 79952, December 21, 2010); for the DASSAULT AVIATION Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes specified in those ADs.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(k) Related Information

(1) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2011-0246, dated December 22, 2011; and Section 05-40/00, Airworthiness Limitations, of Chapter 5-40, Airworthiness Limitations, of the Dassault Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Revision 21, dated June 21, 2011; for related information.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606; telephone [phone]; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 26, 2012.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.