Important Inspection: Potential Corrosion Risk Near Falcon 900 Baggage Door Motor

May 2025

A crucial area for inspection on your Falcon 900 involves the potential for water ingress and subsequent corrosion near the baggage door motor. The design in this area features a slope under the Falcon 900 baggage door motor, intended to direct water away from critical components. This slope is formed using a blue 3M filling compound, sealed with a protective layer of sealant and paint.

The effectiveness of this protection hinges on the integrity of the sealant. If the sealant is compromised, water can penetrate and become trapped within the lightweight filler material. This trapped moisture can then initiate corrosion. Also note that the opening for the door cable in this panel does not provide a complete seal, increasing the vulnerability to water intrusion.

Recommended Inspection Procedure:

Recommend carefully inspecting the door motor bracket to proactively address this potential issue.

• Ensure the baggage door is securely supported.
• Remove the baggage door motor to gain access to the area.
• Look for loose or bulging paint. This is a sign of corrosion pushing on the filler.
• Carefully remove a section of the blue 3M filler to examine the underlying metal structure for any signs of corrosion.

Corrective Action:

Should any corrosion be found:

• Completely remove all of the existing blue 3M filling compound.
• Thoroughly inspect the exposed area for the extent of the corrosion.
• Following corrosion treatment, the area should be re-ramped using sealant as the sole filling material.
• Follow the Structural Repair Manual for damage criteria and confirm if the area is considered a PSE (Principal Structural Elements) area.
• If the area is considered, then Dassault Structures will need to be contacted.

Regular inspection of this area can help prevent significant corrosion-related issues, and application of Approved CIC (corrosion inhibiting compounds) in this area will help as well.

If you have any questions or require further clarification on this or any other Falcon technical matter, please contact me.