[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8205-8206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3514]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 1995 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 8205]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model
MBB-BK 117 Series Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD)
Model MBB-BK 117 series helicopters. This proposal would require
initial and repetitive inspections of the main rotor (M/R) blade upper
and lower surface for bulging. This proposal is prompted by two
reported incidents in which a balance weight became detached from
inside the M/R blade structure and migrated toward the tip of the M/R
blade. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect
movement of a balance weight to prevent severe vibrations and a
subsequent precautionary landing.
DATES: Comments must be received by April 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9:00
a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand
Prairie, Texas 75053-4005. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Monschke, Aerospace
Engineer, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5116, fax
(817) 222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, which is the airworthiness authority for
the Federal Republic of Germany, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model
MBB-BK 117 series helicopters. The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt advises that the
M/R blade upper and lower surfaces in the area of the balance weights
may bulge or have creep deformations.
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) has issued Alert Service Bulletin
ASB-MBB-BK 117-10-108, Revision 1, dated October 14, 1994, which
specifies initial and repetitive inspections of the upper and lower
surfaces of the main rotor blades for bulging in the area of the
outboard lead balance weight. The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt classified this
service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD 94-280 in order to assure
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in the Federal
Republic of Germany.
This helicopter model is manufactured in the Federal Republic of
Germany and is type certificated for operation in the United States
under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness
agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt has kept the FAA informed of the situation
described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the Luftfahrt-
Bundesamt, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-
BK 117 series helicopters of the same type design registered in the
United States, the proposed AD would require initial and repetitive
inspections of the M/R blade upper and lower surface for bulging. The
actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the
service bulletin described previously.
The FAA estimates that 125 helicopters of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately one-half
work hour per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that
the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures,
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated
to be $3,750.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects [[Page 8206]] on the States, on the relationship between the
national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact,
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD): Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD.
Applicability: Model MBB-BK 117 A-1,P A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, and C-
1 helicopters, certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To detect movement of a balance weight, severe vibrations, and a
subsequent precautionary landing, accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 5 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD, and thereafter, at intervals not to
exceed 50 hours TIS, visually inspect the upper and lower surface of
the main rotor blades (blades) in the area of the outboard lead
balance weight in the marked inspection area for signs of bulging,
in accordance with Paragraph 2.A. of the Accomplishment Instructions
of Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Alert Service Bulletin ASB-MBB-
BK 117-10-108, Revision 1, dated October 14, 1994.
(b) If a marked inspection area is not visible, mark the area in
accordance with Paragraph 2.A. of the Accomplishment Instructions of
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Alert Service Bulletin ASB-MBB-BK
117-10-108, Revision 1, dated October 14, 1994, and then inspect in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD.
(c) If bulging exceeds 1mm in height, remove the blade and
replace it with an airworthy blade in accordance with the applicable
maintenance manual.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used when approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, FAA,
Rotorcraft Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests
through an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or
comment and then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Staff.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Rotorcraft Standards Staff.
(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 6, 1995.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3514 Filed 2-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P