AD 2001-12-09

Effective July 24, 2001.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 24, 2001.

The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Norman B. Martenson, Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900 and Falcon 900EX series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2000 (65 FR 64636). That action proposed to require replacement of the protective screens of the underfloor structure boxes at frame 25.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the single comment received.

The manufacturer has advised the FAA that, since the issuance of the proposed rule, it has issued Dassault Service Bulletin F900-232, Revision 1, dated November 12, 1999 (for Model Mystere-Falcon 900 series airplanes); and Dassault Service Bulletin F900EX-93, Revision 1, dated November 12, 1999 (for Model Falcon 900EX series airplanes); and requests that the final rule be revised to require accomplishment of the actions in accordance with these new revisions of the service bulletins. The FAA agrees with the manufacturer's request. We have reviewed and approved Revision 1 of these service bulletins, and find that they are essentially identical to the original versions (which were cited as the appropriate sources of service information for accomplishment of the actions in the proposed rule). The final rule has been revised to require accomplishment of the actions in accordance with either the original issue or Revision 1 of the applicable service bulletin.

After careful review of the available data, including the comment noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

The FAA estimates that 127 Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 900 and Falcon 900EX series airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 5 work hours per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $128 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $54,356, or $428 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive: