[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3583-3585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1132]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-200-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon
900 Series Airplanes Equipped With Fairchild Model F800 Flight Data
Recorders, Installed in Accordance With Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) SA7255SW-D
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Dassault Aviation Model
Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes. This proposal would require
modification of the electrical power installation of the flight data
recorder, replacement of the currently installed socket box for ground
power with a modified socket box, and performance of checks and tests.
This proposal is prompted by reports of the generators shutting down
due to an intermittent relay failure of the flight data recorders. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of
[[Page 3584]] electrical power to the airplane due to generator outage.
DATES: Comments must be received by February 27, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-200-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Falcon Jet Corporation, P.O. Box 967, Little Rock,
Arkansas 72203-0967. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2148; fax (206) 227-1320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 94-NM-200-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-NM-200-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
Recently, the FAA has received reports indicating that the
generators on certain Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes may
shut down due to an intermittent relay failure of flight data recorders
that were installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) SA7255SW-D. This failure occurred because of an electrical short,
due to a defective relay. Such electrical shorting resulted in 28 volts
in the relay of the control box of the ground power unit (GPU), which
controls all three generators when the airplane is powered externally.
In these reported instances, the 28 volts of power energized the GPU
relay and functioned as though the airplane were powered externally.
(That is, all three generators shut down.) After the shutdown of all
three generators, all critical and essential equipment would be
operable only for the duration of the battery power. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in loss of electrical power to the
airplane.
Falcon Jet Corporation has issued Service Bulletin 900-54 (F900 31-
30), dated October 14, 1994, and Revision 1 (F900 31-1), dated November
17, 1994. (The FAA has reviewed and approved these service bulletins.)
The service bulletins describe procedures for modifying the electrical
power installation of flight data recorders installed in accordance
with STC SA7255SW-D; replacing the currently installed socket box for
ground power with a modified socket box; and performing post-
modification checks and tests. The modification removes the automatic
disabling capability of the electrical power to the flight data
recorder when the airplane is powered externally.
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. The FAA has
determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design
that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require modification of the
electrical power installation of the flight data recorder, replacement
of the currently installed socket box for ground power with a modified
socket box, and performance of checks and tests. The actions would be
required to be accomplished in accordance with the either of the
service bulletins described previously.
As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general,
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has
been included in this notice to clarify this requirement.
The FAA estimates that 18 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $286 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $13,788,
or $766 per airplane.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
[[Page 3585]] Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February
26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the
draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in
the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Dassault Aviation: Docket 94-NM-200-AD.
Applicability: Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes having
serial numbers 53 through 139 inclusive, equipped with Fairchild
Model F800 flight data recorders, installed in accordance with
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA7255SW-D; certificated in any
category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) to request approval from the FAA. This
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration
eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions necessary to
address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request
should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent loss of electrical power to the airplane due to
generator outage, accomplish the following:
(a) At the next scheduled inspection, but no later than 60 days
after the effective date of this AD, modify the electrical power
installation for the flight data recorder, in accordance with
paragraph 3.C.(1), Part 900-54-1, of Falcon Jet Corporation Service
Bulletin 900-54 (F900 31-30), dated October 14, 1994, or Revision 1
(F900-31-1), dated November 17, 1994. Prior to further flight
subsequent to the accomplishment of this modification, perform the
checks and tests in accordance with paragraph 3.D.(1), Part 900-54-
1, of either service bulletin.
(b) Within 1 year after the effective date of this AD, replace
the currently installed socket box for ground power with a modified
socket box, in accordance with paragraph 3.C.(2), Part 900-54-2, of
Revision 1 of Falcon Jet Corporation Service Bulletin 900-54 (F900
31-1), dated November 17, 1994. Prior to further flight, subsequent
to the accomplishment of this installation, perform the checks and
tests, in accordance with paragraph 3.D.(2), Part 900-54-2, of
Revision 1 of the service bulletin.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 11, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-1132 Filed 1-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U