[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69206-69208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32084]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-SW-04-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SE.3160, 
SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J 
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) applicable to Eurocopter France Model SE.3160, SA.316B, 
SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J 
helicopters. This proposal would require inspecting each inflation head 
and union nut on certain emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinders 
and replacing each cracked inflation head with an airworthy inflation 
head. This proposal is prompted by the discovery of cracked inflation 
heads during routine maintenance inspections of emergency flotation 
systems. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent an emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinder from exploding 
with resultant high velocity shrapnel, which could cause airframe 
damage or personal injury and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-SW-04-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 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shep Blackman, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5296, 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. 99-SW-04-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. 99-SW-04-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 SE.3160, SA.316B, 
SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J 
helicopters. The DGAC advises of several occurrences of cracks due to 
stress corrosion on the inflation heads of certain nitrogen cylinders.
    Eurocopter France has issued Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) Nos. 
05.19, applicable to the Model AS341 and AS342 series helicopters; 
05.58 applicable to the SA330 series helicopters; and 05.66 applicable 
to the Model SA316 and SA319 series helicopters, all Revision 3, all 
dated May 4, 1998, which specify inspecting and replacing each cracked 
inflation head, part number (P/N) 74929, with no serial number (S/N) or 
with S/N's lower than 12000; and each union nut, P/N's 75441 and 75834, 
on emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinders, P/N ARZ 74921, with an 
airworthy inflation head made from AU 2GN having a S/N equal to or 
greater than 12000. The DGAC classified these SB's as mandatory and 
issued AD's 80-062-041(A) R2, 80-063-030(A) R2, and 80-061-028(A) R2, 
all dated July 15, 1998, to assure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters in France.
    These helicopter models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United

[[Page 69207]]

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, France 
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 these type 
designs 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 SE.3160, SA.316B, 
SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J 
helicopters of the same type designs registered in the United States, 
the proposed AD would require inspecting and replacing each cracked 
inflation head, P/N 74929, with no S/N or with S/N's lower than 12000; 
and each union nut, P/N's 75441 and 75834, on emergency flotation gear 
nitrogen cylinders, P/N ARZ 74921, with an airworthy inflation head 
having a S/N equal to or higher than 12000. The actions would be 
required to be accomplished in accordance with the SB's described 
previously.
    The FAA estimates that 114 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The required parts would cost 
$2,138 for each helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$271,092.
    The regulations proposed herein would not impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on states or local governments or 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 13132, the FAA has not consulted with 
States or local authorities prior to the publication of this notice.
    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. 99-SW-04-AD.

    Applicability: Model SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, 
SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J helicopters with emergency 
flotation gear nitrogen cylinder, P/N ARZ 74921, with inflation 
head, part number (P/N) 74929, that has no serial number (S/N), or 
with a S/N lower than 12000, or has a union nut, P/N 75441 or 75834, 
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 
otherwise 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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless previously 
accomplished.
    To prevent an emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinder from 
exploding with resultant high velocity shrapnel, which could cause 
airframe damage or personal injury and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) For Model SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, 
SA330G, or SA330J helicopters,
    (1) At the next scheduled emergency flotation gear maintenance 
inspection or 400 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs 
first, accomplish the following:
    (i) Discharge each emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinder 
(cylinder) in accordance with the ``Discharge Procedure for the 
74921G Cylinder'' in Eurocopter France Service Bulletin (SB) 05.66, 
Revision 3, dated May 4, 1998 (316/319SB) or Eurocopter France SB 
05.58, Revision 3, dated May 4, 1998 (330 SB).
    (ii) Remove the inflation head and degrease the assembly.
    (iii) Perform a dye penetrant inspection of each inflation head 
and union nut on each emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinder.
    (2) Thereafter, conduct a dye penetrant inspection of each 
inflation head and union nut on each cylinder at each scheduled 
emergency flotation gear maintenance inspection or at intervals of 
not more than 400 hours TIS, whichever occurs first.
    (b) For Model SA341G or SA342J helicopters,
    (1) At the next scheduled emergency flotation gear maintenance 
inspection or 520 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs 
first, accomplish the following:
    (i) Discharge each emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinder in 
accordance with the ``Discharge Procedure for the 74921G Cylinder'' 
in Eurocopter France Service Bulletin (SB) 05.19, Revision 3, dated 
May 4, 1998.
    (ii) Remove the inflation head and degrease the assembly.
    (iii) Perform a dye penetrant inspection of each inflation head 
and union nut on each cylinder.
    (2) Thereafter, conduct a dye penetrant inspection of each 
inflation head and union nut on each cylinder at each scheduled 
emergency flotation gear maintenance inspection or at intervals of 
not more than 520 hours TIS, whichever occurs first.
    (c) Before further flight, replace each cracked inflation head, 
P/N 74929, with an airworthy inflation head having S/N 12000 or 
higher.
    (d) 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, Regulations Group, 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, Regulations Group.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile AD's 80-062-041(A) R2, 80-063-030(A) 
R2, and 80-061-028(A) R2, all dated July 15, 1998.


[[Page 69208]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 3, 1999.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32084 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P