[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12462-12463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5733]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-SW-76-AD; Amendment 39-11620; AD 2000-05-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA.315B,
SA.316B, SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160,
and SA 3180 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 SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA
318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA 3180
helicopters that have certain tail rotor blades (blades) installed.
This action requires reducing the service life of those blades to 400
hours time-in-service (TIS). This amendment is prompted by the
discovery that 10 blades were manufactured incorrectly. This condition,
if not corrected, could result in failure of a blade and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Effective March 24, 2000.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before May 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-76-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Monschke, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, ASW-111, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5116, fax (817) 222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile
(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the
FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Eurocopter France Model
SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130,
SE.3160, and SA 3180 helicopters. The DGAC advises that the service
life must be reduced on the blades due to the discovery of a non-
compliance of blade cuff-stems (blade to hub attachment) metallurgical
structure affecting the service life.
These helicopter models are manufactured in France and are 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 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 SA.315B, SA.316B,
SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA
3180 helicopters of the same type designs registered in the United
States, this AD is being issued to prevent failure of a blade and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires reducing
the service life of certain serial-numbered blades, part number
3160S34.11.000.00, to 400 hours TIS. The short compliance time involved
is required because the previously described critical unsafe condition
can adversely affect the controllability of the helicopter. Therefore,
retiring the blades from use upon reaching 400 hours TIS is required
prior to further flight and this AD must be issued immediately.
None of the Model SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C,
SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA 3180 helicopters affected by
this action are on the U.S. Register. All helicopters included in the
applicability of this rule are 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 only a few minutes to note the
changed retirement life in the maintenance manual, therefore the cost
impact is negligible.
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
[[Page 12463]]
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. 99-SW-76-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct
effect 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, it
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132.
The FAA has determined that notice and public comment are
unnecessary in promulgating this regulation; 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.
The FAA has also determined that this regulation 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, 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:
AD 2000-05-11 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-11620. Docket No. 99-
SW-76-AD.
Applicability: Eurocopter France SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA
318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA 3180
helicopters, with tail rotor blades, part number (P/N)
3160S34.11.000.00, serial numbers (S/N) 23484 through 23493,
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 (c) 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 before further flight, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of a tail rotor blade and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Remove each tail rotor blade, P/N 3160S34.11.000.00, S/N
23484 through 23493, upon reaching 400 hours time-in-service (TIS).
Replace each blade with an airworthy tail rotor blade.
(b) This AD revises the Limitations Section of the maintenance
manual by establishing a new life limit of 400 hours TIS for the
tail rotor blades.
(c) 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.
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 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.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on March 24, 2000.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD T1999-127-057(A); AD
T1999-128-060(A); and AD T1999-129-043(A), all dated March 25, 1999
and AD 1999-129-043(A), AD 1999-127-057(A), and AD 1999-128-060(A),
all dated April 7, 1999.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 1, 2000.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-5733 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
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