The FAA has proposed a superseding directive on the Falcon 7X. The move would replace AD 2025-13-11 and pull further spoiler electrical control units into scope. The notice was published in the Federal Register on 20 August 2026 and signed three days earlier.
The unsafe condition centres on the spoiler electrical control unit, or SPECU. Engineering analysis found that certain SPECU failures send an untimely, permanent activation command to the standby electrical pump. The result is equipment overheating and hydraulic leakage. That combination can lead to an uncontrolled fire in the fuel equipment bay during ground operations. EASA first addressed the fault in AD 2024-0224 on 26 November 2024. Later work identified further affected part numbers, prompting the superseding EASA AD 2026-0016 on 26 January 2026, which the FAA now proposes to incorporate by reference.
The proposed rule would continue the actions from the earlier AD and require operators to replace the newly identified units. Installation of any affected part is prohibited. Applicability covers every Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airframe in any category.
The FAA estimates 160 US-registered aircraft fall in scope. Per-operator cost is put at $22,682, of which $22,597 is parts and one work-hour is priced at $85. Total industry cost across the US fleet is estimated at $3,629,120. The docket is FAA-2026-8785, under project MCAI-2026-00073-T. The notice was signed on 17 August 2026 by Steven W. Thompson, acting deputy director of the FAA Compliance and Airworthiness Division.
Falcon 7X owners have until 5 October 2026 to submit comments. A final rule will follow. Operators outside the United States should track any subsequent action by their own authority for applicability to their register.
Source: FAA NPRM 2026-16961, Federal Register, 20 August 2026; govinfo full text; EASA AD 2026-0016, 26 January 2026.