AD 2006-03-02

This AD becomes effective February 16, 2006.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of February 16, 2006.

We must receive comments on this AD by April 3, 2006.

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.

Contact Dassault Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606, for service information identified in this AD.

Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Dassault Model Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX airplanes. The EASA advises that a drawing review and further associated inspections have highlighted a potential chafing risk between the third crew member's oxygen mask box, which is optional, installed in the cockpit ceiling, and feeder cables routed in the area. This condition, if not corrected, could generate smoke or fire in the cockpit that could be fanned by oxygen leakage from the oxygen mask box.

Dassault has issued the service bulletins in the following table:

Both service bulletins describe the following procedures for both airplane models, except as indicated:

• Coating nuts and rivets with epoxy resin if necessary.

• Doing a general visual inspection for damage of the feeder cables coming from the essential and A1 buses, and applicable corrective actions if necessary. The corrective actions include repairing any damaged feeder cable having a damaged conductor, and wrapping with Roundit sheath any damaged feeder cable that does not affect the conductor; as applicable.

• Re-routing the wiring on the cockpit protector, and bonding the applicable supports with epoxy resin (for all Model Falcon 2000 airplanes and for certain Model Falcon 2000EX airplanes).

• Installing a protective plate on the feeder cables.

For certain airplanes, Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-92 also describes procedures for drilling holes in the cockpit protector located between the headline and the skin, and clamping the feeder cables coming from the essential, A1, and A2 buses.

Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The EASA mandated the service bulletins and issued emergency airworthiness directive 2006-0003, dated January 5, 2006, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the European Union.

These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of § 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to FAA Order 8100.14A, “Interim Procedures for Working with the European Community on Airworthiness Certification and Continued Airworthiness,” dated August 12, 2005, the EASA has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. We have examined the EASA'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 prevent chafing between the third crew member's oxygen mask box and feeder cables routed in the area, which could generate smoke or fire in the cockpit that could be fanned by oxygen leakage from the oxygen mask box. This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously.

The applicability of the EASA's emergency airworthiness directive 2006-0003 excludes airplanes on which Dassault Modification M2738 (reference Dassault Service Bulletins F2000EX-92 and F2000-332) was done. However, we have not excluded those airplanes in the applicability of this AD; rather, this AD includes a requirement to accomplish the actions specified in those service bulletins, as applicable. This requirement will ensure that the actions specified in the applicable service bulletin and required by this AD are done on all affected airplanes. Operators must continue to operate the airplane in the configuration required by this AD unless an alternative method of compliance is approved. This difference has been coordinated with the EASA.

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.

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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2006-23716; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-008-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD that might suggest a need to modify it.

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 that 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 may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

You may 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 Docket Management System receives them.

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.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

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

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):