Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Model Mystere Falcon 900 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-82-AD; Amendment 39-8950; AD 94-13-09]

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Model Mystere Falcon

900 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that

is applicable to all Dassault Aviation Model Mystere Falcon 900 series

airplanes. This action requires either pressure checks and charging, if

necessary, of the low pressure chamber of the nose gear shock absorber,

or torque checks of the nose wheel steering to determine if the

charging operation is within specified limits; recharging of the shock

absorber, if necessary; and installation of a relay in the electrical

rack. This amendment is prompted by reports of failure of the nose

landing gear (NLG) to extend fully. The actions specified in this AD

are intended to prevent malfunction of the NLG during extension due to

recompression of the nose gear shock absorber.

DATES: Effective July 12, 1994.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in

the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as

of July 12, 1994.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before August 26, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-82-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055-4056.

The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from

Dassault International, Inc., P.O. Box 624, Paramus, New Jersey 07653-

9925. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Slotte, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)

227-2797; fax (206) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile

(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, recently

notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all Dassault

Aviation Model Mystere Falcon 900 series airplanes. The DGAC advises

that it has received reports of recompression of the nose landing gear

(NLG) shock absorber due to the relative wind upon retraction. This

condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the NLG to

extend fully using the normal hydraulic mode, the emergency hydraulic

mode, or the emergency mechanical mode.

Dassault Aviation issued Service Bulletin F900-A149 (F900-A32-11),

dated April 13, 1994, which describes procedures for pressure checks of

the low pressure chamber of the nose gear shock absorber or a torque

check of the nose wheel steering to determine if the charging operation

is within specified limits; and recharging of the shock absorber, if

necessary. Dassault Aviation also issued Service Bulletin F900-150

(F900-32-12), dated May 9, 1994, which describes procedures to install

a relay in the right side of the electrical rack. The purpose of this

relay is to interrupt the NLG retraction cycle if the NLG shock

absorber is not fully expanded. This will prevent a lock-up of the NLG

and a subsequent inability to deploy the NLG when necessary. The DGAC

classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued French

Airworthiness Directive 94-098-014(B)R1, dated May 11, 1994, in order

to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

This airplane model is manufactured in France and is 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. The FAA has examined the findings of

the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and 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, this AD is being issued to prevent failure of the

NLG to extend (deploy) using the normal hydraulic mode, the emergency

hydraulic mode, or the emergency mechanical mode. This AD requires

either repetitive pressure checks and charging, if necessary, of the

low pressure chamber of the nose gear shock absorber, or torque checks

of the nose wheel steering to determine if the charging operation is

within specified limits; and recharging of the shock absorber, if

necessary. This AD also requires installation of a relay in the right

side of the electrical rack. Installation of the relay terminates the

repetitive pressure and torque checks. These actions are required to be

accomplished in accordance with the service bulletins described

previously.

Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of

this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior

public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for

making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves

requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by

notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on

this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments will

be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments

received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and

suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the

AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be

needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might

suggest a need to modify the 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 that

summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this

AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket Number 94-NM-82-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

The regulations adopted herein will 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 final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency

regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe

condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action''

under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this

action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies

and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined

that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will

be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may

be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the

caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by

reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

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:

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:

94-13-09 Dassault Aviation: Amendment 39-8950. Docket 94-NM-82-AD.

Applicability: All Model Mystere Falcon 900 series airplanes,

certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent inability of the nose landing gear (NLG) to extend

(deploy) fully due to recompression of the NLG shock absorber,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 7 days after the effective date of this AD,

accomplish either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD in

accordance with Dassault Aviation Service Bulletin F900-A149 (F900-

A32-11), dated April 13, 1994:

(1) Perform a pressure check of the low pressure chamber of the

NLG shock absorber to determine if its charging operation is within

the limits specified in the Airplane Maintenance Manual (AMM).

Perform the pressure check in accordance with procedures described

in the service bulletin.

(i) If the charging operation is within the limits specified in

the AMM, repeat the pressure check at intervals not to exceed 7

days, until the installation required by paragraph (b) of this AD is

accomplished.

(ii) If the charging operation is outside the limits specified

in the AMM, prior to further flight, recharge the shock absorber in

accordance with procedures described in the AMM. Thereafter, repeat

the pressure check at intervals not to exceed 7 days, until the

installation required by paragraph (b) of this AD is accomplished.

(2) Perform a torque check of the nose wheel steering to

determine if the charging operation of the NLG shock absorber is

within the limits specified in the service bulletin. Perform the

torque check in accordance with procedures described in the service

bulletin.

(i) If the average load computed is greater than or equal to 130

ft. lbs. (18 mdaN), repeat the torque check at intervals not to

exceed 7 days, until the installation required by paragraph (b) of

this AD is accomplished.

(ii) If the average load computed is greater than 87 ft. lbs.,

but less than 130 ft. lbs., (12 to 18 mdaN), within 3 landings or 7

days after performing the torque check, whichever occurs later,

recharge the shock absorber in accordance with the service bulletin.

Flights on which the landing gear will be retracted are authorized.

Thereafter, repeat the torque check at intervals not to exceed 7

days, until the installation required by paragraph (b) of this AD is

accomplished.

(iii) If the average load computed is less than or equal to 87

ft. lbs. (12 mdaN), prior to further flight, recharge the shock

absorber in accordance with service bulletin. Thereafter, repeat the

torque check at intervals not to exceed 7 days, until the

installation required by paragraph (b) of this AD is accomplished.

(b) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, install

a relay in the right side of the electrical rack in accordance with

Dassault Aviation Service Bulletin F900-150 (F900-32-12), dated May

9, 1994. Accomplishment of this installation constitutes terminating

action for both the pressure checks and the torque checks required

by paragraph (a) of this AD.

(c) 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.

(d) The checks and recharging shall be done in accordance with

Dassault Aviation Service Bulletin F900-A149 (F900-A32-11), dated

April 13, 1994. The installation shall be done in accordance with

Dassault Aviation Service Bulletin F900-150 (F900-32-12), dated May

9, 1994. The incorporation by reference of these documents were

approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with

5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from

Dassault International, Inc., P. O. Box 624, Paramus, New Jersey

07653-9925. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on July 12, 1994.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 20, 1994.

Robert C. McCracken,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-15381 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-U