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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0457; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01207-T;
Amendment 39-22790; AD 2024-14-09]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-02-
10, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON
900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2022-02-10 required replacement
of certain titanium screws. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-02-10,
affected parts have been found in other areas of certain Falcon 7X
airplanes as well as in additional Falcon 7X airplanes. This AD
continues to require the actions in AD 2022-02-10, adds other locations
for screw replacement, and revises the applicability, 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 October 15, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0457; 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 EASA material identified 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.
For Dassault Aviation material identified in this AD,
contact Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box
2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone 201-440-6700; website
dassaultfalcon.com.
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-2024-0457.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
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 to supersede AD 2022-02-10,
Amendment 39-21907 (87 FR 7025, February 8, 2022) (AD 2022-02-10). AD
2022-02-10 applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON
900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2022-02-10 was prompted by MCAI
originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States
of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2021-0047, dated February 16,
2021 (EASA AD 2021-0047), to correct an unsafe condition. AD 2022-02-10
required replacement of certain titanium screws. The FAA issued AD
2022-02-10 to address failure of an affected screw installed in a
critical location, possibly resulting in reduced structural integrity
of the airplane.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2024 (89 FR
15965). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0207, dated November 21,
2023 (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that since EASA
issued AD 2021-0047, it was determined that affected parts have been
installed in production in additional areas of certain Model FALCON 7X
airplanes already included in the applicability of EASA AD 2021-0047.
Additionally, it was determined that additional Model FALCON 7X
airplanes were not included in the applicability of EASA AD 2021-0047.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in
AD 2022-02-10, add other locations for screw replacement, and revise
the applicability, as specified in EASA AD 2023-0207. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0457.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
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 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2023-0207 specifies procedures for replacing certain
Decomatic titanium screws (including an inspection of the bore
dimension and corrective actions (oversizing or repair)). The EASA AD
also restricts installation of certain Decomatic titanium screws.
Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-467, Revision 2, dated March 20, 2023,
specifies procedures for additional work.
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 44 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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ACTION
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LABOR COST
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PARTS COST
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COST PER PRODUCT
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COST ON U.S. OPERATORS
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Retained actions from AD 2022-02-10
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Up to 90 work-hours x $85 per hour = $7,650
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$0
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Up to $7,650
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Up to $336,600
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New proposed requirements
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Up to 110 work-hours x $85 per hour = $9,350
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0
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Up to $9,350
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Up to $411,400
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According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs
in the cost estimate.
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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-02-10, Amendment 39-21907
(87 FR 7025, February 8, 2022); and
b. Adding the following new AD:
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