AD 2007-12-16

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 114 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32776-32778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: E7-11203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27849; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-249-AD; 
Amendment 39-15094; AD 2007-12-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and Falcon 
900EX Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority 
of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as some 
stringer reinforcements (F900DX) and some rivets (F900DX/F2000EX) 
missing from the skin panels on each side of the fuselage between 
frames 9 and 10 on certain Falcon 900DX and Falcon 2000EX EASy 
aircraft; this situation affects the structural integrity of the 
fuselage. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 19, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 19, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at <a href="http://dms.dot.gov">http://dms.dot.gov</a> or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to allow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.
    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2007 (72 
FR 18415). That NPRM proposed to require inspecting skin panels on each 
side of the fuselage between frames 9 and 10, including holes and 
structure, where missing rivets are found, adding missing rivets and 
stringer caps, as applicable, and contacting the manufacturer if the 
holes are out-of-round beyond tolerance, or if cracks are found, as 
applicable. The MCAI states that following the incorporation of a 
design change to the Karman fairing, it has been determined that some 
stringer reinforcements

[[Page 32777]]

(F900DX) and some rivets (F900DX/F2000EX) are missing from the skin 
panels on each side of the fuselage between frames 9 and 10 on certain 
Falcon 900DX and Falcon 2000EX EASy aircraft. The MCAI was issued to 
recover the certificated structural strength by adding the missing 
rivets and checking the condition of the adjacent structure, and to add 
the missing stringer caps on F900DX (as appropriate). This situation 
affects the structural integrity of the fuselage and may lead to an 
unsafe condition if left uncorrected.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable in a U.S. court of 
law. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively 
from the information provided in the MCAI and related service 
information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow our FAA policies. Any such differences 
are described in a separate paragraph of the AD. These requirements, if 
any, take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 2 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 170 work-hours per 
product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-
hour. Required parts will cost $0 per product. Where the service 
information lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, 
we have assumed that there will be no charge for these parts. As we do 
not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some parties may 
incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $27,200, or 
$13,600 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 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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at <a href="http://dms.dot.gov">http://dms.dot.gov</a>; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-12-16 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-15094. Docket No. FAA-
2007-27849; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-249-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective July 19, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX airplanes, 
S/N (serial number) 82; and Model Falcon 900EX (version F900DX) 
airplanes, S/Ns 601 through 605; certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states that following the incorporation of a design change to the 
Karman fairing, it has been determined that some stringer 
reinforcements (F900DX) and some rivets (F900DX/F2000EX) are missing 
from the skin panels on each side of the fuselage between frames 9 
and 10 on certain Falcon 900DX and Falcon 2000EX EASy aircraft. This 
situation affects the structural integrity of the fuselage and may 
lead to an unsafe condition if left uncorrected. The MCAI was issued 
to recover the certificated structural strength by adding the 
missing rivets and checking the condition of the adjacent structure, 
and to add the missing stringer caps on F900DX (as appropriate). 
These actions include inspecting the area, including holes and 
structure, where missing rivets are found, and contacting the 
manufacturer if the holes are out-of-round beyond tolerance, or if 
cracks are found, as applicable.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, unless 
already done, do the following actions: Inspect and repair the 
aircraft in accordance with the instructions of Dassault Service 
Bulletin F900EX-308, dated October 18, 2006, for version F900DX, S/N 
601 through 605; and Dassault Service

[[Page 32778]]

Bulletin F2000EX-133, dated September 28, 2006, for Model F2000EX S/
N 82.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (f) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Tom 
Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1137, fax (425) 227-1149. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.
    (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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2006-0320-E, dated October 18, 
2006; Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-308, dated October 18, 2006; 
and Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-133, dated September 28, 2006; 
for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-308, dated 
October 18, 2006; or Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-133, dated 
September 28, 2006; as applicable, unless the AD specifies 
otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 
07606.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or 
go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 1, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-11203 Filed 6-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P