[Federal Register: March 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 39)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9853-9856]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr05-5]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20425; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD;
Amendment 39-13987; AD 2005-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes. This
AD requires prohibiting dispatch with certain equipment inoperative;
and revising the airplane flight manual to facilitate recovery of the
cockpit display units in the event of an avionics standard
communication bus (ASCB) failure and to inform the flightcrew what
equipment is inoperative during an ASCB failure. This AD also requires
doing an integrity check of the ASCB for any faults and corrective
action if necessary, and installing an avionics software update to the
Honeywell Primus Epic system. This AD is prompted by a report that an
analysis and tests of the Honeywell Primus Epic systems installed on
the Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed that all
information displayed on the cockpit display units could become invalid
during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent a loss of data from
all four of the cockpit display units, and loss of all radio
communications (with the exception of VHF emergency frequency and last
frequency used), primary navigation instruments, autopilot, auto-
throttle, central alerting system, aural alarms, and normal braking (on
Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes only). These losses could reduce
the flightcrew's situational awareness, increase flightcrew workload,
and consequently reduce the ability to maintain safe flight and landing
of the airplane.
DATES: Effective March 1, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March
1, 2005.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 2, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Dassault
Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. You can
examine this information 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: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket
[[Page 9854]]
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2005-20425; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2005-NM-014-AD.
Examining the Docket
You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de
l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for
France, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain
Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes. The DGAC
advises that an analysis and tests of the Honeywell Primus Epic system
installed on Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed a
potential for all information presented on the cockpit display units to
become invalid during flight. The cause of the malfunctioning cockpit
display units has been attributed to a failure of a network interface
controller (NIC) for the avionics standard communication bus (ASCB),
which causes a loss of ASCB synchronization. The ASCB failure could
result in a loss of data from all four of the cockpit display units,
and loss of all radio communications (with the exception of VHF
emergency frequency and last frequency used), primary navigation
instruments, autopilot, auto-throttle, central alerting system, aural
alarms, and normal braking (on Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes
only). These losses could reduce the flightcrew's situational
awareness, increase flightcrew workload, and consequently reduce the
ability to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Other Relevant Rulemaking
We have determined that since the Honeywell Primus Epic system is
also installed on Gulfstream Model GV-SP series airplanes and on
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model ERJ 170 series
airplanes, those airplanes are subject to an unsafe condition similar
to that addressed in this AD. In light of that determination, we issued
AD 2005-04-06, amendment 39-13978 (70 FR 7847, February 16, 2005) (for
Model GV-SP series airplanes), and issued AD 2004-26-12, amendment 39-
13924 (69 FR 78300, December 30, 2004) (for Model ERJ 170 series
airplanes), to address the unsafe condition on those airplane models.
We may consider additional rulemaking on other airplane models having
the Honeywell Primus Epic system that also exhibit a similar unsafe
condition.
Relevant Service Information
Dassault has issued Service Bulletin F2000EX-58, dated January 10,
2005; and Service Bulletin F900EX-256, dated January 10, 2005. These
service bulletins describe procedures for performing an inspection to
check the integrity of the ASCB by inspecting for any faults. The
inspection involves using a maintenance laptop computer to run a TELNET
session.
Dassault has also issued Temporary Change 12, dated January 26,
2005, to the Dassault Falcon 2000EX Airplane Flight Manual, DGT88898
(for Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes); and Temporary Change 14,
dated January 12, 2005, to the Dassault Falcon 900EX Airplane Flight
Manual, DGT84972 (for Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes). The
temporary changes describe procedures for flightcrew to follow in the
event that the information displayed on all four cockpit display units
become invalid during flight. The procedures describe steps the
flightcrew can perform to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display
units, and informs the flightcrew what equipment will be unavailable
during an ASCB failure/event.
In addition, Dassault has issued Service Bulletin F2000EX-59, dated
February 2, 2005; and Service Bulletin F900EX-254, dated February 2,
2005. These service bulletins describe procedures for performing an
avionics software upgrade to the Honeywell Primus Epic system. The
software upgrade involves installing a new NIC and generic input/output
(I/O) software.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The DGAC mandated
the service information described above and issued French emergency
airworthiness directives UF-2005-024, dated January 27, 2005; and UF-
2005-025, dated January 27, 2005; to ensure the continued airworthiness
of these airplanes in France.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are issuing this AD to prohibit dispatch with certain
equipment inoperative; and to require revising the airplane flight
manual (AFM) to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display units in the
event of an avionics systems communication bus (ASCB) failure and to
inform the flightcrew what equipment is inoperative during an ASCB
failure. This AD also requires doing an integrity check of the ASCB for
any faults and corrective action if necessary, and installing an
avionics software update to the Honeywell Primus Epic system. This AD
requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Between
this AD and the Service Information'' and ``Differences Between this AD
and the French Airworthiness Directives.''
Differences Between the AD and the Service Information
Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment
Instructions of the referenced service bulletins describe procedures
for submitting a sheet recording compliance with the service bulletin,
this AD will not require those actions. We do not need this information
from operators.
The service bulletins F2000EX-58, dated January 10, 2005; and
F900EX-256, dated January 10, 2005; specify that you may contact the
manufacturer for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but
this AD requires you to repair those conditions using a method that we
or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent)
approve. In light of the type of repair that would be required to
address the unsafe condition, and consistent with existing bilateral
airworthiness
[[Page 9855]]
agreements, we have determined that, for this AD, a repair we or the
EASA approve would be acceptable for compliance with this AD.
Differences Between This AD and the French Airworthiness Directives
Although the French airworthiness directives specify a compliance
time of 24 hours after the effective date of the French airworthiness
directive for the AFM revisions, we specify a compliance time of 72
hours after the effective date of this AD. We find that this will
prevent airplanes from being grounded unnecessarily without adversely
affecting the safety of the airplanes.
Although the French airworthiness directives require operators to
revise the Abnormal Procedures of the AFMs, this AD requires the
Limitations section to be revised. The Limitations section of the AFM
is the only AFM section mandated by the FAA.
Although the French airworthiness directives require revising the
AFM by inserting operational limitations on landing with published go-
around flight paths and on take-off in a certain runway visual range
condition, we do not require that action. This decision is based on our
determination that those operational limitation revisions are not
necessary.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD; therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment
before the AD is issued is impracticable, and good cause exists to make
this AD effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any relevant written
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an
address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20425;
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light
of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of our docket
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
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 have 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 the 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); 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. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to
examine the regulatory evaluation.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-04-15 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-13987. Docket No. FAA-
2005-20425; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-014-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective March 1, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX series
airplanes with serial numbers 6, 28 and subsequent; and Model Falcon
900EX series airplanes with serial numbers 97, 120 and subsequent;
certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report that an analysis and tests
of the Honeywell Primus Epic systems installed on Model Falcon
2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed that all information
displayed on the cockpit display units could become invalid during
flight. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a loss of data from
all four of the cockpit display units, and loss of all radio
communications (with the exception of VHF emergency frequency and
last frequency used), primary navigation instruments, autopilot,
auto-throttle, central alerting system, aural alarms, and normal
braking (on Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes only). These losses
could reduce the flightcrew's situational awareness, increase
flightcrew workload, and consequently reduce the ability to maintain
safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inoperative Equipment Restrictions
(f) As of the effective date of this AD, dispatch is prohibited
with any of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1),
[[Page 9856]]
(f)(2), (f)(3), and (f)(4) of this AD inoperative. When the actions
required in paragraph (i) of this AD are accomplished, dispatch with
any of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(3),
and (f)(4) inoperative is allowed in accordance with the provisions
and limitations specified in the Master Minimum Equipment List
(MMEL).
Note 1: The MMELs currently allow flight/dispatch with any or
all of the equipment specified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(3),
and (f)(4) inoperative under certain conditions. This AD supersedes
the MMEL or the approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for any
operator. Paragraph (i) of this AD provides the required terminating
action for the dispatch restrictions.
(1) Dispatch with Secondary flight display system inoperative,
as allowed in section 34-2, item 5, of the Dassault F2000EX MMEL or
the Dassault F900EX MMEL, as applicable, is prohibited.
(2) Dispatch with Non-stabilized magnetic (standby) compass
inoperative, as allowed in section 34-2, item 6, of the Dassault
F2000EX MMEL or the Dassault F900EX MMEL, as applicable, is
prohibited.
(3) Dispatch with UP-DN manual regulator in pressurized flight
inoperative, as allowed in section 21-5, item 2, of the Dassault
F2000EX MMEL; or in section 21-5, item 3, of the Dassault F900EX
MMEL; as applicable; is prohibited.
(4) Dispatch with Digital electronic engine computers (automatic
mode) inoperative, as allowed in section 73-1, item 1, sub-item 1,
of the Dassault F900EX MMEL is prohibited.
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision
(g) Within 72 hours after the effective date of this AD, revise
the Limitations section of the AFM as required in paragraphs (g)(1)
and (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
(1) Revise Dassault Falcon F2000EX AFM, DGT88898, by inserting a
copy of Dassault Temporary Change (TC) 12, dated January 26, 2005.
(2) Revise Dassault Falcon 900EX AFM, DGT84972, by inserting a
copy of Dassault TC 14, dated January 12, 2005.
Inspection
(h) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, do an
inspection to check the integrity of the avionics systems
communication bus (ASCB) for any faults, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-58,
dated January 10, 2005; or Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-256,
dated January 10, 2005; as applicable. If any fault is found during
the inspection, before further flight, repair the ASCB in accordance
with a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch,
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent).
Terminating Action
(i) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, install
an avionics software update to the Honeywell Primus Epic system in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Dassault Service
Bulletin F2000EX-59, dated February 2, 2005; or Dassault Service
Bulletin F900FX-254, dated February 2, 2005; as applicable. Doing
this software update ends the requirements of paragraph (h) of this
AD, and the dispatch restrictions and AFM revisions required by
paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD may be removed.
No Reporting Requirement
(j) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify
to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include
that requirement.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(l) French emergency airworthiness directives UF-2005-024, dated
January 27, 2005; and UF-2005-025, dated January 27, 2005; also
address the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(m) You must use the service information that is specified in
Table 1 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (Only the title and List of
Temporary Changes pages of Dassault Temporary Changes 12 and 14
contain the document issue date; no other page of these documents
contain this information.) The Director of the Federal Register
approves the incorporation by reference of those documents in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the
service information, contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000,
South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. You can review copies at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; 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 http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Service information Date
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Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-58.. January 10, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-59.. February 2, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-254.. February 2, 2005.
Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-256.. January 10, 2005.
Dassault Falcon 2000EX Temporary January 26, 2005.
Change 12.
Dassault Falcon 900EX Temporary Change January 12, 2005.
14.
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Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 14, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3559 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P