[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25180-25182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12113]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-SW-43-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France SA 330F, G, and J
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 France Model SA 330F,
G, and J helicopters. This proposal would require removal and
replacement of each tail rotor electrical bonding braid (bonding
braid). This proposal is prompted by one in-service report of
[[Page 25181]]
failure of a bonding braid. The actions specified by the proposed AD
are intended to prevent failure of a bonding braid due to fatigue,
resulting impact with the tail rotor blades, and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 8, 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-43-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, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert McCallister, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft
Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort
Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5121, 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. 97-SW-43-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 Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-SW-43-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
Discussion
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 SA 330F, G, and J
helicopters. The DGAC advises that, in order to improve the in-service
resistance of the bonding braids and to limit the risks of their
impacting the blades, the bonding braids and their attachment clamps
were to be removed and replaced before September 1, 1995.
Eurocopter France has issued Eurocopter France Service Bulletin SA
330 No. 65.73 R3, dated June 22, 1995. The DGAC classified this service
bulletin as mandatory and issued AD 95-153-072(B), dated July 19, 1995,
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
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant tot his
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 SA 330F, G, and J
helicopters of the same type design registered in the United States,
the proposed AD would require replacing the bonding braids. The actions
would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service
bulletin described previously.
The FAA estimates that 2 helicopters of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work
hours per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $250 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$740.
The regulations proposed herein would 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
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. 97-SW-43-AD.
Applicability: Model SA330F, G, and J helicopters with tail
rotor electrical bonding
[[Page 25182]]
braids, part number (P/N) 332A031.1276.00, that have not been
modified in accordance with AMS 332A07-66-003 or AMS 33207-66-072,
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 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 the next 60 calendar days, unless
accomplished previously.
To prevent failure of a tail rotor electrical bonding braid
(bonding braid) due to fatigue, resulting impact with the tail rotor
blades, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish
the following:
(a) Remove the bonding braids, P/N 332A31.1276.00, and replace
them with airworthy bonding braids, P/N 332A31.1276.01 in accordance
with paragraphs B and C of the Operating Procedure of Eurocopter
France Service Bulletin SA 330 No. 65.73 R3, dated June 22, 1995.
(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 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.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction
Generale L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 95-153-072(B), dated July 19,
1995.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 29, 1998.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12113 Filed 5-6-98; 8:45 am]
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