[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9403-9405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4409]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-SW-29-AD; Amendment 39-10359; AD 98-04-48]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS 332L2
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
is applicable to Eurocopter France Model AS 332L2 helicopters. This
action requires modifying the main rotor blade vibration absorber
(vibration absorber) by replacing the weight support assemblies with
reinforced weight support assemblies. This amendment is prompted by a
report of the failure of a weight support assembly in-flight. The
actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of a
vibration absorber weight support assembly, which could lead to adverse
vibrations, contact between the fuselage and a main rotor blade or loss
of a main rotor blade; and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
DATES: Effective March 12, 1998.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of March 12, 1998.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before April 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-SW-29-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas
75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527. This
information may be examined at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Mathias, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5123, fax (817)
222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile
(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, recently
notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Eurocopter
France Model AS 332L2 helicopters with vibration absorbers, part number
(P/N) 332A11-0460-01, installed. The DGAC advises that failure of a
vibration absorber can result in adverse vibrations, contact between
the fuselage and a main rotor blade or loss of a main rotor blade; and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Eurocopter France has issued Eurocopter Service Bulletin No.
[[Page 9404]]
62.00.43, dated February 13, 1997, which specifies converting the
vibration absorbers, P/N 332A11-0460-01, to vibration absorbers, P/N
332A11-0460-02, by replacing the weight support assemblies, P/N 332A11-
0470-00, with reinforced weight support assemblies, P/N 332A11-0474-00.
The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
French AD 97-026-005(B) R2, dated March 12, 1997, applicable to
Eurocopter France Model AS 332L2 helicopters with vibration absorbers,
P/N 332A11-0460-01, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of
these helicopters in France.
This helicopter model is manufactured in France 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 DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, 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 France Model AS 332L2 helicopters
of the same type design registered in the United States, this AD is
being issued to prevent failure of a vibration absorber weight support
assembly, which could lead to adverse vibrations, contact between the
fuselage and a main rotor blade or loss of a main rotor blade; and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires
modifying the main rotor blade vibration absorber by replacing the
weight support assemblies with reinforced weight support assemblies.
The actions are required to be accomplished in accordance with the
service bulletin described previously.
None of the Eurocopter France Model AS 332L2 helicopters affected
by this action are on the U.S. Register. All helicopters included in
the applicability of this rule are currently operated by non-U.S.
operators under foreign registry; therefore; they are not directly
affected by this AD action. However, the FAA considers that this rule
is necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed in the
event that any of these subject helicopters are imported and placed on
the U.S. Register in the future.
Should an affected helicopter be imported and placed on the U.S.
Register in the future, it would require approximately 8 work hours to
accomplish the required actions, at an average labor rate of $60 per
work hour. Required parts would cost $11,300 per helicopter. Based on
these figures, the cost impact of this AD would be $11,780 per
helicopter.
Since this AD action does not affect any helicopter that is
currently on the U.S. Register, it has no adverse economic impact and
imposes no additional burden on any person. Therefore, notice and
public procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made
effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will
be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments
received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the
AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be
needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the 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 that
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-SW-29-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects 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 final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
The FAA has determined that notice and prior public comment are
unnecessary in promulgating this regulation and therefore, it can be
issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft since
none of these model helicopters are registered in the United States,
and that it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action involves
an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this
emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may
be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the
caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
98-04-48 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-10359. Docket No. 97-SW-
29-AD.
Applicability: Model AS 332L2 helicopters with main rotor blade
vibration absorbers (vibration absorbers), part number (P/N) 332A11-
0460-01, installed, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For
[[Page 9405]]
helicopters that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that
the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the
owner/operator must use the authority provided in paragraph (b) to
request approval from the FAA. This approval may address either no
action, if the current configuration eliminates the unsafe
condition, or different actions necessary to address the unsafe
condition described in this AD. Such a request should include an
assessment of the effect of the changed configuration on the unsafe
condition addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any
modification, alteration, or repair remove any helicopter from the
applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after
the effective date of this AD, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent failure of a vibration absorber weight support
assembly, which could lead to adverse vibrations, contact between
the fuselage and a main rotor blade or loss of a main rotor blade;
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the
following:
(a) Convert the vibration absorbers, P/N 332A11-0460-01 into P/N
332A11-0460-02 by replacing the weight support assemblies, P/N
332A11-0470-00, with weight support assemblies, P/N 332A11-0474-00,
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Eurocopter
France Service Bulletin No. 62.00.43, dated February 13, 1997.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Staff,
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA. 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Rotorcraft Standards Staff.
(c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
(d) The modification shall be done in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Eurocopter France Service Bulletin
No. 62.00.43, dated February 13, 1997. This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be
obtained from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive,
Grand Prairie, Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972)
641-3527. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on March 12, 1998.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction De
L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 97-026-005(B) R2, dated March 12,
1997.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 13, 1998.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4409 Filed 2-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U