90 FR 93 pgs. 20569-20572 - Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
Type: PRORULEVolume: 90Number: 93Pages: 20569 - 20572
Pages: 20569, 20570, 20571, 20572Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-08553 Filed 5-14-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
[top]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of the incorrect installation of the very high frequency omnidirectional range and localizer (VOR/LOC) antenna coupler. This proposed AD would require implementing an operational limitation for Category (CAT) II and CAT III approaches, inspecting the VOR/LOC antenna coupler, and reinstalling the VOR/LOC antenna coupler if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 30, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
[top] Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For EASA material identified in this proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0753.
• You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonathan Duong, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov , including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jonathan Duong, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; email: jonathan.duong@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2024-0219, dated November 18, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0219) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. The MCAI states that incorrect installations of the VOR/LOC antenna have been reported. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in oscillations of the lateral deviation indication on both localizer (LOC) number 1 and LOC number 2 during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, and in possible inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication and associated flight management system VOR/distance measuring equipment (DME) position updates. The FAA is proposing this AD to address lateral deviation LOC indications and inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication, which could lead to an airplane departing from its scheduled flight path and possible impact with terrain or obstacle.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0753.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2024-0219 specifies procedures for implementing an operational limitation prohibiting CAT II and CAT III approaches, inspecting/checking the installation of the VOR/LOC antenna coupler, and removing and reinstalling any incorrectly installed VOR/LOC antenna coupler. For airplanes with an operational approval to conduct CAT II or CAT III approaches, EASA AD 2024-0219 also specifies that the inspection and applicable corrective actions eliminate the need for the operational limitation. 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.
FAA's Determination
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 is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2024-0219 described previously, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Compliance With AFM Revisions
EASA AD 2024-0219 specifies that amending the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM) by inserting a copy of that AD and thereafter "operating the aeroplane accordingly," is an acceptable method to comply with that operational limitation requirement. However, this proposed AD would not specifically require operating the airplane according to the AFM revision, as that action is already required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations require that operators furnish to pilots any changes to the AFM (for example, 14 CFR 121.137), and to ensure the pilots are familiar with the AFM (for example, 14 CFR 91.505). As with any other flightcrew training requirement, training on updated AFM content is tracked by the operators and recorded in each pilot's training record, which is available for the FAA to review. FAA regulations also require pilots to follow the procedures in the existing AFM including all updates. 14 CFR 91.9 requires that any person operating a civil aircraft must comply with the operating limitations specified in the AFM. Therefore, including a requirement in this proposed AD to operate the airplane according to the revised AFM would be redundant and unnecessary.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
[top] In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 279 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
| Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 | $0 | $170 | $47,430 |
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-condition action that would be required based on the results of any required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this on-condition action:
| Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|
| 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85 |
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Dassault Aviation: Docket No. FAA-2025-0753; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00681-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by June 30, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0219, dated November 18, 2024.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34, Navigation.
(e) Unsafe Condition
[top] This AD was prompted by reports of the incorrect installation of the very high frequency omnidirectional range and localizer (VOR/LOC) antenna coupler. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the incorrect installation of the VOR/LOC antenna coupler. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in oscillations of the lateral deviation indication on both LOC number 1 and LOC number 2 during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, and possible inaccurate or erroneous VOR indication and associated flight management system VOR/distance measuring equipment (DME) position updates. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to an airplane departing from its scheduled flight path and possible impact with terrain or obstacle.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA 2024-0219.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0219
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0219 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2024-0219 specifies that "[a]mending the applicable AFM [airplane flight manual] by inserting a copy of this AD and, thereafter, operating the aeroplane accordingly, is an acceptable method to comply with this [operational limitation] requirement", this AD does not require operating the airplane according to that AFM revision, as that action is already required by existing FAA operating regulations (see 14 CFR 91.9, 14 CFR 91.505, and 14 CFR 121.137).
(3) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2024-0219.
(i) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the airplane can be modified, provided category II and category III operations are prohibited.
(j) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Dassault Aviation's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Jonathan Duong, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone: 516-228-7362; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0219, dated November 18, 2024.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) 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. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov .
Issued on May 9, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-08553 Filed 5-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P