Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Model Falcon 10 Series Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. This AD requires a temporary change to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide procedures to the flightcrew for touchdown using the main landing gear to avoid a three- point landing. This AD also requires repetitive inspections of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear (NLG) for cracks, which would terminate the AFM revision, and corrective actions if necessary. In addition, this AD provides for a terminating modification, which would end the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of failure of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the NLG. The cause of such failure has been attributed to fatigue cracking caused by corrosion in the piston rod of the drag strut actuator. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking and/or fracture of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the NLG, which could result in a gear-up landing, structural damage, and possible injury to passengers and crew.