[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15880-15882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7338]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-SW-82-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L2 
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 AS332L2 
helicopters. This proposal would require inspecting for interference 
between the transmission flexible mounting plate (plate) and the 
forward and aft shims (shims), replacing shims and repairing the plate 
if interference is found, and inspecting the plate for a broken plate 
slat (slat) and repairing the plate if a broken slat is found or 
replacing the plate if slat damage beyond repair limits is found. This 
proposal is prompted by the discovery that several helicopters were 
manufactured with shims that did not have cutouts to permit relative 
motion between the plate slats and the shims without interference. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent cracking 
of the plate slats, increased helicopter vibration, loss of 
transmission mounting integrity, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 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-82-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9 
a.m. and 3 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, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas.

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-82-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

[[Page 15881]]

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 99-SW-82-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, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on Eurocopter France Model AS332L2 helicopters. The 
DGAC advises that interference between the plate and the shims on the 
transmission deck can cause damage, which can lead to incipient slat 
cracks.
    Eurocopter France has issued Eurocopter AS 332 Service Bulletin No. 
05.00.54, dated July 8, 1999, which specifies ensuring that there is no 
interference between the plate and the shims on the transmission deck 
and ensuring that there are no broken slats. If broken slats are found, 
the service bulletin specifies procedures for replacing the plate. If 
interference is found, it specifies procedures for replacing the shims 
and repairing the plate or replacing the plate if slat damage is beyond 
repair limits. The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory 
and issued AD 1999-329-015(A), dated August 11, 1999, to ensure 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 AS332L2 helicopters 
of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed 
AD would require inspecting for interference between the plate, part 
number (P/N) 332A38-0106-00, the forward shim, P/N 332A22307420, and 
the aft shim, P/N 332A22307020, and replacing shims and repairing the 
plate if interference is found; and inspecting the plate for broken 
slats and repairing the plate if broken slats are found or replacing 
the plate if slat damage beyond repair limits is found. The actions 
would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service 
bulletin described previously.
    The FAA estimates that 1 helicopter of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per helicopter to accomplish the inspections, 80 work hours to 
accomplish the shim replacements and the plate repair, if necessary, 
and installation of Eurocopter France MOD 0725946 and MOD 0726012, and 
that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would 
cost approximately $4,126 for a forward shim; $4,052 for an aft shim; 
and $53,022 for a plate. Based on these figures, the total cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $66,060 to 
accomplish the inspections and all the replacements and repair, if 
necessary, and installation of both MODs.
    The regulations proposed herein would 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 proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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-82-AD.
    Applicability: Model AS332L2 helicopters, 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 within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 
within 50 hours TIS after accumulating 1,000 hours TIS on the 
transmission flexible mounting plate (plate), whichever occurs last, 
unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent cracking of the plate slats, increased helicopter 
vibration, loss of transmission mounting integrity, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect for interference between the plate, part number (P/
N) 332A38-0106-00, the forward shim, P/N 332A22307420, and the aft 
shim (shim), P/N 332A22307020, in accordance with paragraph 2.B.1 of 
the Accomplishment Instructions in Eurocopter AS 332 Service 
Bulletin No. 05.00.54, dated July 8, 1999 (SB). If interference is 
found, replace the shims and repair the plate in accordance with 
paragraph 2.B.3 of the Accomplishment Instructions in the SB before 
further flight.
    (b) Visually inspect the plate for a broken slat. If a broken 
slat is found, replace the plate and the shims with an airworthy 
plate and shims in accordance with paragraph 2.B.3 of the SB before 
further flight. Replace the plate with an airworthy plate if slat 
damage beyond repair limits is found.
    (c) Install Eurocopter France MOD 0725946 and Eurocopter France 
MOD 0726012 at the next major inspection or when the transmission is 
next removed, whichever occurs first. Installation of both MOD's is 
considered a terminating action for the requirements of this AD.
    (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

[[Page 15882]]

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 (France) AD No. 1999-329-015(A), dated 
August 11, 1999.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 17, 2000.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-7338 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P