[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68392-68394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27068]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2014-0657; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-058-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault 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
certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000, FALCON 2000EX, MYSTERE-
FALCON 900, and FALCON 900EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted
by reports of a co-pilot sliding aft on his seat during take-off at
rotation. This proposed AD would require replacement of certain springs
installed on the pilot and co-pilot seats. We are proposing this AD to
prevent fatigue
[[Page 68393]]
wear, which, if not corrected, could cause the seat to slide and the
pilot or co-pilot to lose contact with the controls, leading to an
inadvertent input on the flight control commands during take-off or
climb, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 2, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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, NJ 07606;
telephone 201-440-6700; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may
view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0657; 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 this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket
Operations office (telephone 800-647-5527) 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, Washington WA 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.
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-2014-0657;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-058-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 2014-0061, dated March 11, 2014 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault
Aviation Model FALCON 2000, FALCON 2000EX, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, and
FALCON 900EX airplanes. The MCAI states:
During take-off at rotation, a co-pilot reported to slide aft on
his seat.
The results of the investigations concluded that one spring of
the seat locking system was broken and the other was weak. The root
cause was determined to be fatigue wear. As springs accumulate
cycles in service, they become increasingly exposed to the risk of
unnoticed degradation or rupture.
This condition, if not corrected, could cause the pilot or the
co-pilot to lose contact with the controls, leading to an
inadvertent input on the flight control commands during take-off or
climb, possibly resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, it was decided to require
replacement of the affected seat springs for older aeroplanes and
for newer aeroplanes; this task has been embodied in the aeroplane
maintenance manual.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of the springs installed on the pilot and co-pilot seats
with serviceable springs.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0657.
Relevant Service Information
Dassault Aviation has issued the following service bulletins. The
actions described in this service information are intended to correct
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900-429, Revision 1, also
referred to as 429-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-446, Revision 1, also
referred to as 446-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000-401, Revision 1, also
referred to as 401-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-267, Revision 1, also
referred to as 267-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
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 these
same type designs.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
Although the MCAI does not require repetitive replacement of the
pilot seat springs, this AD requires repetitive replacement of the
pilot seat springs at intervals not to exceed 78 months or 3,750 flight
cycles, whichever occurs first. This difference has been coordinated
with EASA. Also, we have been advised that EASA plans to revise the
MCAI.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 528 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per product
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $83
per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $133,584, or $253 per product.
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
[[Page 68394]]
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.
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
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. Amend Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2014-0657; Directorate Identifier
2014-NM-058-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by January 2, 2015.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs
(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) of this AD, certificated in any
category, equipped with SICMA 132-series or 142-series pilot and co-
pilot seats.
(1) Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 airplanes
(2) Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes
(3) Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes
(4) Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of a co-pilot sliding aft on his
seat during take-off at rotation. We are issuing this AD to prevent
fatigue wear, which, if not corrected, could cause the seat to slide
and the pilot or co-pilot to lose contact with the controls, leading
to an inadvertent input on the flight control commands during take-
off or climb, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Replacement
For airplanes that have accumulated more than 3,750 total flight
cycles or have exceeded 74 months since the airplane's first flight
as of the effective date of this AD. Within 9 months after the
effective date of this AD, replace each spring having part number
(P/N) 132100-19 and P/N 147100-19 installed on the pilot and co-
pilot seats with a spring as specified in, and in accordance with,
the Accomplishment Instructions of the service information
identified in paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(3), or (g)(4) of this
AD, as applicable. Repeat the replacement thereafter at intervals
not to exceed 78 months or 3,750 flight cycles, whichever occurs
first.
(1) Dassault Service Bulletin F900-429, Revision 1, also
referred to as 429-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
(2) Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-446, Revision 1, also
referred to as 446-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
(3) Dassault Service Bulletin F2000-401, Revision 1, also
referred to as 401-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
(4) Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-267, Revision 1, also
referred to as 267-R1, dated July 13, 2012.
(h) Parts Installation Limitation
As of the effective date of this AD, installation of a spring
having P/N 147100-19 on any airplane is allowed, provided that the
spring is new.
(i) 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 (425) 227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Dassault Aviation's EASA
Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(j) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2014-
0061, dated March 11, 2014, for related information. This MCAI may
be found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2014-0657.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606;
telephone 201-440-6700; Internet http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You
may view this 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 November 5, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-27068 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P