AD 2022-27-05 Was Prompted By A Determination That Replacing Certain Brake Servo-Valves Is Necessary

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-09-15, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. 

AD 2022-09-15 required relocating affected servo-valves and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide temporary information necessary to operate airplanes fitted with at least one affected brake servo-valve. AD 2022-09-15 also limited or prohibited the installation of affected brake servo-valves. This AD was prompted by a determination that replacing certain brake servo-valves is necessary to address the unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-09-15, including the parts installation limitation or prohibition, and also requires replacing an affected part with a serviceable part, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective February 3, 2023.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2022-09-15, Amendment 39-22035 (87 FR 29217, May 13, 2022), (AD 2022-09-15). AD 2022-09-15 applied to all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000 and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2022-09-15 required relocating affected servo-valves and revising the existing AFM to provide temporary information necessary to operate airplanes fitted with at least one affected brake servo-valve. AD 2022-09-15 also limited or prohibited the installation of affected brake servo-valves. The FAA issued AD 2022-09-15 to prevent temporary failure of the brake servo-valves, which could lead to reduced braking performance during landing including degraded or dissymmetric braking, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane, lateral excursion of the runway, and consequent damage to the airplane.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 20, 2022 (87 FR 63706). The NPRM was prompted by Emergency AD 2022-0068-E, dated April 14, 2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (EASA Emergency AD 2022-0068-E) (referred to after this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that occurrences were reported of brake system failure during landing. Subsequent investigation determined the root cause to be a brake control-valve failure which was a result of application of inappropriate oiling during production and maintenance, affecting a specific batch of affected parts. This condition, if not addressed, could lead to reduced braking performance during landing, possibly resulting in reduced control of, and consequent damage to, the airplane. The NPRM was also prompted by a determination that replacing certain brake servo-valves is necessary to address the unsafe condition. AD 2022-09-15 did not require that replacement, because the planned compliance time for that replacement would have allowed enough time to provide notice and opportunity for prior public comment on the merits of the action. The FAA determined that the replacement is needed, and is therefore issuing this AD to require the replacement.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain all of the requirements of AD 2022-09-15, including the parts installation limitation or prohibition. The NPRM also proposed to require replacing affected brake servo-valves, as specified in EASA Emergency AD 2022-0068-E.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1238.

FMI: www.regulations.gov