[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U