[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 9, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48607-48608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20183]



[[Page 48607]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-09-AD; Amendment 39-11852; AD 2000-15-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA-365N, N1, 
and AS-365N2, N3 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) for 
Eurocopter France Model SA-365N, N1, and AS-365N2, N3 helicopters. This 
action requires inspecting the sand filter ejection nozzle (nozzle) for 
cracks and replacing any cracked nozzle. This amendment is prompted by 
the discovery of a cracked nozzle during a preflight inspection. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of the nozzle in 
flight, impact with the main or tail rotor, and a subsequent forced 
landing.

DATES: Effective August 24, 2000. Comments for inclusion in the Rules 
Docket must be received on or before October 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-SW-09-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between 
9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Madej, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5125, 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-
365N, N1, and AS-365N2, N3 helicopters with CENTRISEP EAPS sand filters 
installed. The DGAC advises that a crack on a nozzle can result in 
separation of the nozzle from the helicopter. The DGAC has issued AD 
No. 2000-108-050(A), dated March 22, 2000, in order 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 States under the provisions of 
Sec. 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 SA-365N, N1, and AS-
365N2, N3 helicopters of the same type design registered in the United 
States, this AD is being issued to prevent loss of a nozzle in flight, 
impact with the main or tail rotor, and a subsequent forced landing. 
This AD requires inspecting each nozzle for a crack before further 
flight, and thereafter before the first flight of each day. Replacing 
any cracked nozzle with an airworthy nozzle is also required before 
further flight.
    No helicopters on the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD 
since the sand filter kit (kit) that contains the nozzles is not 
currently installed on any helicopter in the U.S. fleet. Should a kit 
be installed on a helicopter listed on the U.S. Registry, it would take 
approximately 1.0 work hour per helicopter to inspect the nozzles and 2 
work hours to replace a nozzle, if necessary. The average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Based on these figures, and assuming that the kit is 
installed on a helicopter, the total cost impact of this AD on a U.S. 
operator is estimated to be $60 for each day of flight operations 
assuming a nozzle does not need to be replaced.
    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 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 mailed 
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. 2000-SW-09-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 prior 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 registered in the United States have 
the affected sand filter kit installed. 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

[[Page 48608]]

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:
2000-15-19  Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-11852. Docket No. 2000-SW-
09-AD.
    Applicability: Model SA-365N, N1, and AS-365N2, N3 helicopters 
with CENTRISEP EAPS sand filters, part number QB0261, QB0262, 
QB0486, or QB0487, 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 (b) 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 accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of a sand filter ejection nozzle (nozzle) in 
flight, impact with the main or tail rotor, and a subsequent forced 
landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) Before further flight, and thereafter before the first 
flight of each day, visually inspect the left-hand and right-hand 
nozzles for a crack. Replace any cracked nozzle with an airworthy 
nozzle before further flight.

    Note 2: Eurocopter AS 365 Service Bulletin No. 71.00.14, dated 
February 21, 2000, pertains to the subject of this AD.

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

    (c) 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.
    (d) This amendment becomes effective on August 24, 2000.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. 2000-108-050(A), dated 
March 22, 2000.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 1, 2000.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20183 Filed 8-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U