Falcon Spring 2002

• F-50 & F-900 Inboard Leading Edge Slat Panel
• Inspect The Main Cabin Door Fiberglass Spring
• Pulse Light Modifications

F-50 & F-900 Inboard Leading Edge Slat Panel

— Kevin Bornhorst

On the back side of both inboard leading edge slats are panels with protruding head screws. When wing anti-icing is in operation, the slats expand and these screws can chafe into the heated cuff of the fixed leading edge at the wing root. This cuff skin is only one mm in thickness and is easily damaged. Since this cuff is heated with bleed air at the same time the leading edges are heated, any damage to it could lead to an expensive replacement.

To prevent damage to the cuff, the leading edge panels can be replaced with panels that are attached with countersunk screws. The part number for these panels is F50B133000250B3 for the left slat and F50B143000250B3 for the right slat. The panels are shown in both the F- 50 and F-900 IPCs in chapter 57-50-30, figure 35, item #280B & #290B and can be purchased from Dassault Falcon Jet Spares Dept.

Duncan Aviation recommends you inspect this area and change these panels to ensure the heated cuff is not damaged.

Inspect The Main Cabin Door Fiberglass Spring

— Ron Grose

The F-900 (s/n 1-187), F-900EX (s/n 1-081), and F-2000 (s/n 1-138) have a door actuator (p/n AE40142Z003, 004, 005 or 006) which is made of composite. This actuator looks like a large “wish bone” and is located under the right cabin floor, across from the main entrance door. During a C inspection, technicians are required to inspect this actuator for delamination, cracks or other defects. Technicians often find actuators that have these defects, with most having serious delamination and cracking problems. When actuators are found in this condition, technicians must replace the actuator with a repaired unit. This is extremely expensive.

One of the main causes for this delamination and cracking is leaving the main entrance door open for an extended period of time (two weeks or longer). When the door is left in the open position, the actuator is extended to its maximum extension position, for which it was not designed. If the main entrance door is going to be open for a long period of time, Duncan Aviation recommends that you disconnect the cable to this actuator as instructed by a work card in Chapter 52 of your Maintenance Manual. This will prevent serious damage and great expense.

Pulse Light Modifications

— Joe Austin

Precise flight has developed a control box which can be hooked into the tail logo lights and will then cycle in sequence with landing and recognition lights. It is a sixchannel unit, model number 2401. This box can also take input from the TCAS controller; this allows the unit to operate the pulse light system when a TCAS advisory is displayed, with the intent of making your aircraft more visible during the advisory.

The new control box is the same size as the original, so structural modification to the airframe is not required. Wiring changes are made using wiring prints available through Precise Flight and approved under a 337 document.

One of the benefits of the pulse light system has always been the “soft start” that it gives to the bulb when commanded to illuminate. This “soft start” function helps extend the life of the bulb.

Pulse light switches may need to be added or changed to a different style on the instrument panel if you do not already have the system installed in your aircraft.

For more info, contact Roger Courey in BTL at 800.525.2376 or Jeff Manion in LNK at 800.228.4277.

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